UVA

I love you! I love you for reading this blog, for caring about my family, for leaving a comment, for sending us emails, for trying to strengthen us, for praying for Mitchell, for praying for a miracle, for hoping for a miracle for someone besides yourself, for making us feel so lucky that we know you! Our days have been so strengthened by the comments and emails we've gotten. The words you leave us make me feel so empowered to go on, to stay positive, and to rely on the Lord. I cannot tell you how nice it has been to have you support us. It's amazing to me how much we have NEEDED it. Thank you, I love you. We love you.

So Mitchell was transferred to University of Virginia (UVA) Monday. We are so thankful to be here. Jake and I came up here and have been staying at the Ronald McDonald house... for only $15 a night. The doctors and nurses are SO NICE here. I've fallen in love already. They totally let me feel like a parent and a care provider. The visiting hours here are very liberal, and they let us hold him as much as we want. THE BEST PART about all of it... they have a preschool from 9-11:30 and 2-3:30 M-F, followed by free daycare until as late as 8 p.m. for siblings of babies in the NICU. Can you believe that good news? I can have my kids close by and still see Mitchell daily. Jake will stay in Richmond on days he works, and come here the rest of the time. This is probably the biggest blessing I could have hoped for. I no longer have to farm my kids from house to house, and feel like I am imposing on anyone. I am so happy!

It has been a whirlwind of news since we got here. Mitchell had an echo early Tuesday morning, and then maybe 30 different doctors looked at him and consulted with us. He's been examined by neuorology, urology, cardiology, pulmonology, radiology, otolaryngology, and everything short of gynecology!!! The ENT came to examine him to make sure there was not an upper airway problem. (He doesn't cry loud, originally they thought from the ventiltor damage, but the cord was tightly wrapped around his neck during birth and he always arches his back to breathe.) Everything has checked out fine, AND his hypertension, although still there, has improved quite a bit! What this means??? They were able to take him off Nitric and Sildenafil (the drugs that have been keeping him alive for the past month!) He is still requiring high pressure with continuous oxygen through the CPAP and he's exchanging gases perfectly! They don't feel they can improve him anymore until they address the PDA.

The cardiologist agrees that his condition has improved and thinks that this surgery is no longer life-threatening!!!!!! She would like to give him another day to make sure he remains stable. Tomorrow morning they will do another ECHO, and if everything is the same he will have the surgery as early as tomorrow. She thinks this surgery may be the last thing that he needs to transition into this life. His lungs still need to grow and the recovery may be scary, so he'll still be here for another month or so. The fact that he has improved at all is a true MIRACLE!!! He is now a good candidate for the surgery and we are very hopeful this will take care of his problems.

We are going to be fasting for Mitchell and would love for you to join us tomorrow for his surgery or Sunday for his recovery.

Thank you so much for your concern. You have been an integral part in Mitchell's improvement.

Jansen has fallen in love with grandma Sue and insisted on holding her hand the ENTIRE car ride.

Reesa finally got to meet Mitchell before we left the NICU in Richmond. She told us to not cry because Mitchell was going to get better.

Cute baby boy with his new CPAP mask at UVA.