The Scar that Represents Life

Sunday, March 9th: Closed up the Chest.
Still swollen from fluid retention.

After surgery, Levi had retained more fluids than expected because he was on bypass for so long. But over the next couple of days and with the constant monitoring and adjusting of medications, he was able to drain enough fluids to maintain stability. They have continued to use the terms "champ," "rock star," "model recovery," "fighter," and "feisty" in reference to his recovery. The hardest part for us was watching him wake up because he would wake up with a "vengeance," as one nurse described. He would grab at his ventilator tube and try and yank it out with his "boxing glove" hand, where the IV was attached. All four fingers were taped together, but he would use his thumb and his taped fingers like a claw and pull on it. So every time he woke up, they would have to sedate him again because they couldn't keep him from pulling at cords, even with a sock on the other hand.

X-ray with 3 drainage tubes, arterial
and central lines in heart, catheter
to drain urine, and pacemaker lines.

The surgeon closed up Levi's chest on Sunday morning because he had lost enough fluid for closure. Before closing up his chest, the sternum was closed by using 5 stainless steel wires that wrap around it. Over time, the bone grows around these rings much like a tree grows around wire that is used to hold it in place. Over the next several days, he continued to grow stronger. They began feeding him 1 mL of milk per hour (he was receiving 68 mL before surgery every 3 hours) through his feeding tube and increase it gradually, as his stomach could handle it. Now it is Wednesday and he is currently receiving 22 mL per hour. They have also weened him off almost all of his medications. He is still receiving a few pain medications to keep him comfortable, but he is doing well.

Yesterday, the surgeon came to check on Levi and the nurse told him how well he was doing and he said with concern, "Let's not get too cocky yet." But Levi continues to show his strength and the doctors and nurses were so pleased with his progress by this afternoon that they decided to move him to the step-down ICU. Today was the first time we were also able to hold him since his surgery. He is now being seen by a speech therapist that is monitoring his vocal cords and throat for when he is ready to nurse. After being on a ventilator, the throat is irritated and so they need time for the swelling to subside. He does not like to be prodded (who does?), so when the nurses come in to work with him, we are pretty sure he is pretending to be asleep because as soon as they leave, he opens his eyes and acts like he is wide awake. They have all been amazed at how well he has been recovering. We are also in awe at his progression as he just had major open heart surgery on Friday. We attribute that to the many prayers that have been given on his behalf. Thank you everyone!

The 5 stainless steel rings holding his sternum together.

We wanted to post pictures of his before and after surgery, but not in a negative way. Before his surgery, we thought about how perfect his chest was and how he would have a scar after the surgery. Then the thought came to me that this scar would represent life, much like the Savior, who has a perfect body, also has scars on His hands and feet that represent and remind us of the life he has given to each of us. I love the scripture that reads: Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me- but he will show that he hath not. For can a women forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?... Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."