This is a picture of Elizabeth when she was 6 weeks old. I love this picture! One week after I took this picture, she was FINALLY (that's a whole other story!) correctly diagnosed with a birth defect. And so began my whirlwind of research and becoming my child's most passionate advocate! We had consults with 2 different surgeons here and then I found Cincinnati. The mecca! I emailed Dr. Levitt with questions on a Friday afternoon. He CALLED me in less than one hour. And then, the ball was rolling to get our sweet baby girl to Cincinnati for surgery. With many prayers, we were there in 3 1/2 weeks. 2 years ago today, she had her surgery and we are so thankful we made it to Cincinnati.
This is Elizabeth and me in the hotel the night before she was admitted.
Ellie had just come out of surgery here and she was doing super well. But Tommy and I were so relieved it was over.
After surgery, she had 10 more days in the hospital - but no eating or drinking! That was harder for me than her I think! She was always smiling and giggling!
Here we are right before they discharged us.
We had to stay in Cincinnati for 10 more days until our follow up appointment. So, we spent her 1st Halloween in the Ronald McDonald House of Cincinnati. We were so blessed to stay there.
We finally touched down in DFW after a long stay in Cincy! And for any of you that know me, I hate flying! I was glad to be home - for lots of reasons!
Here's Elizabeth the very next week! Like nothing ever happened! 
My baby girl is so much fun! There is so much more I could remember and write in here but I am holding a baby in one arm and typing this with the other! It's an art form! I guess I wanted to remember today because it was such a stressful time but everything worked out so well. That doesn't happen to everyone. We had great family and friends that supported us in many different ways. We found an excellent hospital and staff and the best doctors for her defect in the world. We a blessed to live in such a time that Ellie's defect can become a non issue. I am blessed to be her mom.
1 comment:
So cute!!! I love love love the picture journal. Isn't it amazing to go back and look at it all? I still wonder how we got through it. I bet you wonder the same thing about yourselves.
And you're so right...we should be forever thankful that we got to have surgery in the place and TIME we did. In a different country (or state, for that matter) or 30 years ago we'd be telling a different story.
Cheers,
becca
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