Youth Olympic 2010... here comes Lizzie!

Hello everyone, I am glad to write about what happen this month. It has been a joyful month in terms of our time with Lizzie, by God's grace. We brought Lizzie swimming several times. Given the frequency, we cannot resist getting her a new swim suit. She looks all set for the water, and maybe... youth olympic 2010!! :))

Lizzie loves the water so much that she couldn't wait to go in. She will cling on to us and splashed water happily. These are the precious moments we treasure so much.

We also brought her to Bishan Park on afternoon for a walk and play "pop-the-bubbles", one of Lizzie's great thrills. (see her video below!!) Lizzie looks cool with her sun glasses on her head, doesn't she? I know, I know, I am praising her too much... do bear with me... I am sure those with children will understand :)

On a more serious note, we want to thank God for His faithfulness. Lizzie's O2 has been holding steady in the high 70s when she is awake and active and in the low 80s when she is asleep. We are still praying for a breakthrough in her condition and continue to believe that God has created her in her special way for a purpose, for His glory. We wait for God's plans to be revealed in His perfect timing. We also thank you for continuing to uphold Lizzie in prayers as we do not know what is next. We are still living moment by moment, enjoying her innocent giggles and waiting.

God bless, Simon & Elaine.

Lizzie is well and growing. Praise God!

Hi everyone, it has been some time since Elaine and I post. I know many have been wondering what happened since Lizzie surgery. I apologize not letting you know sooner.

Lizzie has come a long way from waking up angry after the surgery cos of the pain and discomfort she felt. Now, she is finally back to her cheeky and playful self, tormenting Daddy and Mommy every day (and we joyfully accept it). Lizzie’s O2 level improved by about 10% after the surgery and currently stands in the range of low 70s to low 80s. She was up and about in her cheongsum, collecting ang pows this Chinese New Year!!

Between the time she was discharged and now, we were dealing with her surgical wounds, one of which took more than 2 weeks to heal. Thank God, all her wounds healed well, and they are neater than her previous surgical scars. I want to thank you again for praying. Each day we hear her laughter, we know in our hearts that it came as a result of your prayers moving the hand of God. Lizzie is a miracle in our lives and our prayer is that she will be a testimony for God to many.

On a lighter note, we are planning to bring Lizzie swimming again this coming week, since she enjoys water a lot. It will be fun for all, so look out for more Lizzie shots.

Here’s wishing you a belated but blessed new year!!!

God bless,
Simon

Lizzie is discharged from hospital

Dear friends,

I would have posted this sooner, but we have been so busy with Lizzie since her discharge from paeds ICU on Monday 21/01/08. Instead of discharging to the normal wards, we decided that once Lizzie no longer required intensive care, we were able to nurse her at home - with the permission from our cardiologist and surgeon.

Lizzie Day 3 - still restrained

Lizzie taking solids on Day 4

Lizzie taking feeds well on Day 4

Because of the deep surgical wounds, Lizzie can't really move around very much, mainly getting carried by myself, Simon and grandma. She seems to be a bit more fearful of falling, and clings to us tightly. Stranger anxiety seems to have developed as well.
We went for post op review today with her cardiologist - all the dressings were replaced, and we saw that the op site was healing very well. Praise the Lord.

Last night when she slept, Lizzie's oxygen was between 79 and 85 most of the time.
In the day time, it seems to be in the 70s.

Lizzie at home Day4

Lizzie gives us a big grin today Day6 -in her pram at the review appointment

Giggling Lizzie watching mummy blow bubbles

We are very thankful that our little girl has started giggling and smiling lots today, and we hope and pray that she will continue to regain her confidence and her outgoing personality.

God Bless,

Elaine

Post op recovery update

Dearest friends,

Thank you for your continued prayers. The last few days have left us exhausted physically, and emotionally. Since the last posting by Simon, we've been taking shifts camping at the PICU, catching a few hours sleep at night. We thank God for preserving our health and preventing us from falling sick during this time.

Day 1 (Thursday 17 January)

We were admitted to Ward 47 in the afternoon - Lizzie had to have blood taken for tests in preparation for her op. Already her limbs are chubby, and finding a blood vessel on her was very difficult for the doctors. So for a normally straight-forward procedure of setting a plug (inserting a needle into a vein in order to set a tube in it), it took at multiple tries of inserting and reinserting needles into her arms, legs, hands and feet, until Lizzie was so traumatised, afterwards she would cry whenever a nurse or doctor came near. Unfortunately after that when we thought she could rest, one of the blood samples was lost, and Lizzie had to endure yet another round of needles pricking into her. She cried so hard and vomitted a few times, but Simon and I were there to reassure and restrain her as best as we could. We managed to get home leave that night, to return early the next day.

Lizzie is opens her eyes and sees Elmo!

Day2 *SURGERY DAY* (Friday 18 January)

5:30am the next morning I had to bathe Lizzie in the antiseptic wash given by the ward, and she kept falling asleep in the bath! We reached the hospital by 7:ooam, and immediately the doctors had to re-set a new plug. Again, as needles were repeatedly inserted and removed in the attempt to locate Lizzie's tiny veins, we were feeling so much pain for her even before her operation. Finally a vein was found, and a plug was set - the pictures Simon posted of us carrying her in the hospital playground was just moments before they wheeled her off to the operation theatre. You can see one of her feet bound up (inside is the plug)


Going into surgery

As I walked with her through the hospital corridors to the operating theatre, I prayed silently that God would protect her from all complications, and that His spirit would fill that theatre, and Lizzie would not be fearful. I was allowed to accompany her into the operating room, and she was in good spirits- playing with the docs and nurses. She was so tired that she fell asleep in my arms before they gave her the gas.




After the surgery

It was three hours later we got news that the operation was successful - in the first two hours, her surgery was delayed because no one could insert a line into her blood vessels. They finally had to take a major blood vessel at her groin - which will result in scarring, but had to be done nonetheless. Her surgeon informed us the actual operation had only taken about an hour to complete. We give thanks to the Lord for no complications, and no need for blood transfusion. AMEN! Praise the Lord!

Lizzie & Mummy

Lizzie & Daddy

Post op in the ICU

Finally we were able to see our little one in the PICU - we were suprised and happy to see that the intubation had been removed (this is normally left in a day or two longer, but Lizzie was strong enough to breathe on her own - praise the Lord!), and she was no longer sedated. It broke our hearts to see her in pain, and hear her whimpering softly, but we also rejoiced in knowledge that God had made her such a strong girl. A fighter!

Day3 *TODAY* (Saturday 19 January)

At 6:00am Lizzie's eyes were wide open, and with the only leg unrestrained managed to kick off all her blankets. The surgical team and Prof CN Lee came to see her soon after - Lizzie glared at everyone (myself and Simon included). To everyone's suprise, the chest drainage tube was quickly removed, and Lizzie was able to start drinking milk again.

Lizzie in PICU

Now as I am typing this, I am sitting by Lizzie's bedside. Occasionally one of the monitors would sound, or Lizzie would stir, and whimper and cry in her sleep. I am faced with the reality that although she has had a successful op, there is a long road of recovery ahead.
We ask that you continue to pray along with us as we cast all our cares and anxieties upon Him.

Our prayer requests:

1/ That the Lord will cause all of Lizzie's surgical wounds to heal quickly and with no complication or infection, and that they will not cause her too much pain.

2/ That Lizzie will be able to maintain good oxygen saturations and be able to come off oxygen support soon.

3/ We ask for continued good physical and mental development

4/ That God will protect her from any bad memories of this experience, and she will not be affected by this surgery, but will be back to the cheerful, bubbly, and affectionate girl that she is.

5/ That the Lord will continue to reveal to us His plan for Lizzie, and use her life and testimony for His glory.

6/ That God will continue to protect the health of Lizzie's caregivers (myself, Simon and my mum-in-law).

We would like to give thanks to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for seeing Lizzie through her operation safely, and for bringing into our midst fellow believers to comfort and assure us (from Lizzie's gospelighter Aunties and Uncles, and our beloved ELIM CG family, to old friends from NNICU the Aunty-Nurse Hung Fei and Aunty-Doctor Siok Ying, to a new friend -anaesthetist Aunty-Doctor Avina). Special thank you to Soo San and Francis for your advice, prayers, and loaning us your oxygen equipment. God has brought loving brothers and sisters into our lives in every step of our journey - HE is indeed our Jehova Rapha and Jehova Jireh.


We will continue to update you when we can.
God Bless,

Elaine

Result of Lizzie's operation

Hi everyone, we just spoke to the surgeon a few minutes ago. The op is a success!!! Lizzie's current O2 saturation is above 90%!!!! Praise the Lord!!! And thank you everyone for your prayers... from the bottom of our hearts as well as Lizzie's!!!

One side comment the surgeon made was Lizzie is so chubby that they took almost 2 hours and still not able to insert a line into her blood vessel. They had to instead put a tube into a major blood vessel at her groin. Our chubby little princess :)

We thank the Lord for a smooth operation and we continue to pray for a speedy recovery free from any complications. During this period, we have also received an answered prayer and encouragements. Lizzie's fourth and fifth teeth have erupted, after a break that made even lizziemommy (who's a dentist) worried that Digeorge's Syndrome may cause Lizzie to have missing teeth. That has been one of our personal prayers for her. We have also received encouragements from friends overseas as well as some we have not been in touch with for some time. Praise God for assuring us that He is in control always and sends encouragements when we need them most.

Lizzie will be sedated for the next 1 to 2 days. For those who are thinking of sending anything to Lizzie, please don't. It already means a lot to us that you are reading this blog and praying for her.

We will continue to keep you updated!!

God bless,

Simon