Seattle Children's Hospital

Although we walked through a small forest decorated with Christmas lights, our hearts were very heavy as we approached the Seattle Childrens' Hospital.  Our dear little Cannon would be having surgery to insert a feeding tube directly into his stomach since he no longer is able to swallow hardly anything.  On most children, this may not seem like too major of a surgery.  However, everything is major for a Menkes patient since they have so much trouble breathing, and they have to be anesthetized (put to sleep) in order for the surgery to take place.  We were told we had the best anesthesiologist at the hospital.  (We needed you, Dr. Critchfield!)

The pictures below will tell most of the story.

Cannon and Ella getting a ride to the waiting area.

Cannon with his mommy who is trying to be very brave.

Calling Cannon's daddy to tell him we would be going into surgery soon. 

So they come to get us.  I went with Natalie into the room where we dressed little Cannon in his tiny hospital gown.

We thereupon had a four different doctors and nurses come in to talk to us. 

As the nurse took Cannon from Natalie's arms, we reminded them to be so careful with "our little bubba boy who we love so much."  They promised that they would. 

Now the waiting game . . . Natalie had her laptop and phone so that she could keep the kids entertained and Kent informed who had to work that day after being gone a whole week to NIH in Maryland two weeks before.  He would be coming up after he worked that day. 

After about 45 minutes, a couple of doctors came to tell us the surgery went well and that Cannon was in recovery.  We decided to take Ethan and Ella to get them some food outside the hospital to get them out for awhile.  In the meantime, Natalie waited and waited . . . We came back and he still wasn't out of recovery.  We were so worried and Natalie was fretful, to say the least.  Finally, she asked at the desk, and they told us all to go up to the room where he would be which seemed like about a quarter of a mile away on the other side of the hospital.  Again, we waited.  When all of a sudden a baby's cry was heard, Natalie, Ethan, and Ella all jumped up!  They knew that cry!  It was the most touching thing I've seen in a long while when the nurse came in the room and handed little Cannon back to his mom.  Tears were streaming down all of our cheeks.  

He was hoarse from crying and having the tube down his throat during surgery,

but he finally quieted down when he was back with those who loved him. 

Getting checked over by more doctors!

Notice the bandaid on his head.  That's where they had to put the anesthesia having tried so many times on his arms and legs. 

Our little bionic baby . . .so many lines and attachments.  He now would stay all night (Natalie, too), so they can monitor him and how he does for the first 24 hours.   

In the meantime, Kent had a very nice Resident Inn that the kids are used to staying in after so many trips to Seattle.  This time, we stayed in it for four day and three nights. 

The breakfasts are great

They have a nice indoor swimming pool . . .

and the staff tries to hard to help make the siblings have as enjoyable stay as possible when they are at the hospital. 

The staff is beginning to know Ethan and Ella well, and they actually like going there. 

 

Ella loves to paint . . .

And when you take Ethan in, he goes for the basketball.  When you come back in three hours later, he still has the basketball and has not quit!

(Luckily, it is a break-away basket!)

The next morning, Kent, Ethan, Ella, George and I went back to the hospital to see how little Cannon (and Natalie) had survived the night.

While Cannon slept, Kent and Natalie learned how to use the continuous feeding pump. 

After all the instructions, the tubes, the gauze, the new formula, etc., Kent and Natalie packed everything up and we were off.

The next day would be Christmas Eve, so Kent and George were kind enough to stay in the car with the kids while Natalie and I stopped at the mall for a few last minute items. 

For about one hour (yes, it turned out to be that long as we tried to find stores and items as quickly as we could), we actually could get a little of the Christmas spirit after the tears and anxiousness we had been feeling for the last three days.  

The next morning, we had to say "Good-bye" to these three sweet little faces with tears in our eyes.  Kent and Natalie were driving back the three hours to Sunnyside, and George and I were on our way to the airport.  We continue to pray for little Cannon and the entire family.  No one knew what kind of trials we would have in this life.  This is certainly one of the most difficult I have seen, but we know the Lord is watching out for them, and we are so thankful.