Avery update

I've decided I'll try to post updates as often as I can about our sweet little Avery. Someday, after all this has passed, which will hopefully be after she comes home with us, I will tell her story from the beginning. However, at this point I don't think I can spare the time or tears. While I won't go into too much detail, I'm not going to say that we had a good day if we didn't. The purpose for this blog is not to worry or depress those who are intrested, but our situation at the moment does not have too many highlights yet. Our highlights do, however, come from our faith in a merciful and loving Heavenly Father who we know to be at the helm. We know that He is aware of us and that He is perfect, and consequently, His plan for Avery has been made perfectly. We believe in His power to heal her, and feel that He will, but if He decides to bring her home with Him, we know that she is still ours forever. We are so grateful that our family is eternal and are so comforted by the knowledge that whatever happens, she will be part of our family for the eternities.

To be honest, the last two days have been difficult. Yesterday, Dr. Raff (our incredible surgeon), was hoping to get her off the heart/lung bypass system which she has been on for about two weeks now and which she has been relying on for life support. Her heart actually seems to be working well. Her body was doing about 90% of the work by itself so it seemed like she should sail through without any problems getting her off. Minutes after they took her off, she was completely unstable. After looking into her chest, Dr. Raff noticed how bad her lungs looked. We knew that her lungs were getting bad, but apparently they are extremely sick and that is why she could not get off the bypass machine.

Until today, the bypass machine was connected to her heart with her chest open (there's a patch over the opeining in her chest, so no, you can't actually see her heart). They closed up her chest and connected the machine into a vein and artery in her neck in order to rest her lungs. Because her lungs are so diseased they want to try to rest them for at least another week and see if they improve at all. And until then, we pray that her lungs will recover.

We are so thankful to all of our friends and family who have shed so many tears and spent so much time on their knees in Avery's behalf. You will never know how much we love you. While we cry often for Avery, a good portion of our tears are shed because of the love and kindness we feel from all those who are supporting us. It is truly overhwhelming. We love you all so much. I will try to update on a daily basis but I make no promises.