Weekend Update from the ICU

Anna had a good day on Friday, sleeping through most the day and the night in spite of her long ordeal yesterday. The doctors and nurses at Children’s Hospital have done a wonderful job of managing her pain. Today she called for Mama and Baba when they were out of site, but was for most of the day quite at peace in spite of the strange situation she awakened to after her surgery…connected to a myriad of tubes and trapped within a hard cast from her waist to her ankles.

The cast is open in the middle so her bandages can be tended. When we first saw her we were overwhelmed with emotion. Rather than her bladder bulging out of her tummy with the mutilated result of her earlier surgery in China, we saw the lower abdomen and vagina of a little girl. It will be so exciting to be with Anna the first time she sees herself and realizes she is no longer different; that she looks like other little girls.

We haven’t seen it yet because of the bandages, but Anna has a new tummy button. Her original one disappeared when her condition developed at birth and during her earlier surgery. Dr. Grady told us (flashing a huge grin) he thinks it’s the best one he’s ever created!

The highlight of Anna’s Friday in the ICU…the thing that brought forth her wide smile…was a phone conversation with her sister Lily.

Today (Saturday) was a bit up and down for Anna. She has had fevers spiking and pain in her tummy. After an increase in some pain medication she felt better and became very talkative for awhile. Later in the day she developed a mild reaction to her latest blood transfusion which was worrisome. For now it seems mild and so we are guardedly relieved.

Sarah and Nana visited today which perked Anna up. She also enjoyed talking to Lily on the phone. Lily is anxious to visit Anna as soon as she is out of ICU.

Thank you for all the positive thoughts and messages that have been sent our way.