(We we be living at Doernbecher's Ronald McDonald House)On Thursday we spent the day at Doernbecher Children's Hospital meeting with Davis' surgeons, meeting the team at the NICU, viewing the birthing unit and touring The Ronald McDonald House.
It was really wonderful to meet the people that will be responsible for saving our little boy's life. You see places and people differently when you know they will be the ones helping your child in ways that you can't.
The surgeons confirmed that everything with the operation and treatment will just depend on Davis' condition at birth. Basically we just have to wait and PRAY until he gets here. They also told us that even if things go smoothly without any setbacks we will not be leaving the hospital anytime before 4 to 6 weeks after he is born. This means we will definitely be spending Christmas in the NICU so once we finally are allowed to go home we figure we can get a pretty good discount on an old Christmas tree and have a little family Christmas to celebrate!
Seeing the NICU was both difficult and reassuring. I teared up when we first walked in to the unit knowing that Davis would soon be struggling there. While we walked through we met another family who had a baby with gastroschisis. He had been there 3 weeks so far but still had a ways to go (his name is Ryder so please keep him in your prayers as well). Ryder's father, Rich, explained to us that is a LONG and FRUSTRATING journey but to just hang in there. It was very nice to speak with other parents that are going through this too. We also learned that people can come to visit us and see (and touch) Davis while we are in the NICU. Here is a link with more information about the Doernbecher NICU: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/programs-services/neonatal-care/.
Touring the birthing unit was good because I got to see just how close to Davis and I will be once he is in the NICU and I am still in the hospital....they are connecting units so that made me feel a little better. Davis will be taken away IMMEDIATELY after he is born, I will not get to see him or touch him until later on. I think that might be one of the hardest parts about this whole situation.
The Ronald McDonald House was wonderful! It will provide us with a space to shower, do laundry, eat meals and maybe at some point sleep. I feel very blessed that I will not have to be far from Davis when I can't be directly with him in the NICU. Here is the link to see more information (including pictures) on the Ronald McDonald House where we will be staying: http://www.rmhcoregon.org/index.php.
Again thank you for your prayers and support. My next appointment will be in less than 3 weeks on Tuesday, September 29th.
"Davis will be taken away IMMEDIATELY after he is born, I will not get to see him or touch him until later on. I think that might be one of the hardest parts about this whole situation."
ReplyDeletethat made me get teary eyed. :) i love you so much and i'm so proud of you! well, all three of you! :) jo, you're amazingly strong and i've been so impressed with you all through out this journey. i can only hope i'd handle the ALL the things that are going on in your heart, mind and life as well as you are! my prayers and heart continue to be with you! :) my brother was SO smart to pick you to marry...best decision he ever made! ;)