Answered Prayers

Last Wednesday we went to Brooklynn's pre op appointment.  Her surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, March 4th at 7am.  For her pre op, we were told we would meet with the surgeons and they would present their plan for surgery, answer any questions we had, and then we would go register at the hospital afterwards.  Joe was able to get off of work to be there with us.  Over the past several weeks we had had time to let it sink in that our baby girl would be having an intense surgery, and I think we both kind of came to terms with it.  Was I terrified of the idea?  Absolutely!  But I had started to accept that she would have a scar across her head, we would be in the hospital for days, and this was going to be one of the hardest trials we had faced together.  My biggest fear was how I would react the first time I saw her after surgery.  The Drs had said she would be very swollen after, and from the images Joe had seen online, he said she wouldn't look like herself at all for a while.  Sometimes I would cry just imagining that moment!  He told me I should look at pics online to sort of prepare myself, but that's not how I wanted to deal with it.  I knew whatever images I saw, would just flash in my head over and over and over.  I wanted to just experience it when I had to, and not freak out about it beforehand.  So, I told him I didn't want to see any images.  I would just live in the moment, and deal with my emotions as I felt them.

We had received SO many loving and supportive comments since I shared with everyone what was going.  It reminded me of the outpouring of love we received after I miscarried the last time.  I can't even express how much it meant to us to know that so many people were thinking about us and praying for Brooklynn, and it really gave us strength to face what was ahead.

We went to the appointment with a lot of questions about what to expect afterwards as far as her healing time, swelling, controlling her pain, etc.

First things first, they needed her weight!

 23 Pounds of cuteness!

Next, Joe decided he would have her stand there so he could get her height!=)

29 Inches Long

She had fun sitting on the table and playing with the paper while we  waited for the doctors.

Taking a few "Selfies" to keep her entertained while we waited

After about 10 minutes, the neurosurgeon, plastic surgeon, and a couple other people entered the room. Dr. Lamb, the neurosurgeon, started talking about the scans, and what they had seen(Joe and I just thought she was reviewing what they had told us the last time), except for she was saying things like "We just don't think we can give you a much better Brooklynn."  After some medical terms, and a few questioning looks between Joe and me, I finally said "Wait a minute, are you trying to tell us that you think she DOES NOT need the surgery?!"  She responded saying that they had further reviewed the scans, and the measurements, and her current head shape, and she had a VERY MINOR case of cranial synostosis.  She said that her head shape looks really good compared to most children they see, and they just didn't feel like they should put her through this big surgery, and a possible blood transfusion, just to correct the shape of her head by a little bit.  Joe and I could not believe what we were hearing!  Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to go to this appointment, and hear that she wouldn't need the surgery after all!  Relief surged through my body! I felt a huge weight immediately lifted off of my shoulders and I couldn't stop smiing!!   I almost expected them to say "April Fools!" but they were for real!  

Dr Lamb said they had another neurosurgeon that she was going to have come in so that he could look at Brooklynn and give us his opinion.  He was a more "seasoned dr" and had done this for many years, and she wanted us to have a second opinion.  He told us that he thought the same thing Dr lamb did.  He said they thought the bulging of her forehead would lessen as her head got bigger, and that they had the option of doing this surgery up until she is 2.  So, he said if for some reason things don't go as they think they will, we can always do the surgery later, and we won't be losing anything!  I asked them as a group "If this were your child, what would you do?"  That neurosurgeon said "If you were my daughter, and she were my granddaughter, I would INSIST that you not do the surgery!"  Dr Lamb said she had really been thinking about this, and she said she just couldn't look us in the eye and say "yes, we should do this surgery.  I can give you a better Brooklynn!"  I felt like crying, but I was SOOOO happy that I just couldn't stop smiling!  They showed us an image of her brain, and said that her head shape wasn't affecting her brain at all, and the spaces that needed to be there were there.  They recommended seeing an opthamologist just to be sure there wasn't pressure there, but she said they would be shocked if there were!  

They took some 3d images of her head, and told us they would follow up with us and monitor her over the next months and years, and they would be in touch with our pediatrician.  

I can't even express how we felt, other than so relieved and extremely grateful!  

She had to wear a little stocking on her head for the pictures

Joe got to go in the machine with her, and my job was to keep her entertained so she would hold still.

You can tell by her smile, I was doing a pretty good job!=)

A little side story I want to document, so I don't forget.  So, we had our home teachers from church come over last Sunday and Joe told them this story.  He said he had forgotten to tell me, and I couldn't believe it when he did!  When we found out that there was a possibility that Brooklynn's skull was fused, before we went to have her CT Scan, Joe and I made the decision that we wanted to fast for her. We went 24 hours without food or drink, and kept a prayer in our heart that all would be well, and if at all possible, she wouldn't have to have surgery.  Later that day is when we got the results back from her scan and learned that her suture had fused and she would most likely need surgery.  If I'm being honest, I felt a little bit discouraged, sad, and angry.  I know I didn't respond well, but those were the emotions I felt.  I  kind of felt like our fast had been in vain.  Well, part of fasting is paying a fast offering-giving the money you would have spent on the two meals missed, to the church to give to the poor.  Joe said that at church that following Sunday, he forgot to pay our fast offering, and then he ended up missing church the next Sunday for work so didn't pay it then either.  He ended up paying it a couple weeks ago on the Sunday before Brooklynn's pre op appointment.  At that appointment is when we found out that she wouldn't be needing surgery after all!   I was so humbled when I heard Joe tell this story.  Heavenly Father was very aware of us, and I know that things aren't always answered in the way we want them to be.  If Brooklynn would have needed surgery, there would have been a reason for that trial and I should have trusted in Him better.  However, we were granted this blessing, the desire of our hearts were answered once we completed our fast by paying fast offerings.   I felt this deep feeling of love rush over me, as Joe told me and our home teachers this story.  I know things aren't coincidence.  As we did our part, and completed the process fully, Heavenly Father was able to bless us.  He is always there and He loves us, and I felt that as Joe told this story.  I also know that there were countless numbers of prayers offered in Brooklynn's behalf by friends and family, and that her name was put on the temple prayer roll a number of times.  There is power in numbers.  Thank you so much to all who have been there for us, and prayed for us during these last several weeks.  You'll never know how much we appreciate you!