Mercy Hospital

Yesterday was a day full of answered prayers. Thank you to everyone for helping. I really believe that yesterday wouldn't have worked out the way it did if it wasn't for all of your thoughts and prayers.

Here is the story:

Mom, Sadie & I left for Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO yesterday around 6 in the morning. Our appointment was with a pediatric pulmonoligist (lung doctor) named Dr. Carver. He isn't a surgeon, but he could confirm Sadie's diagnosis and either agree or disagree with the suggestion of surgery.

When we got to the hospital I was instantly impressed. I'd never been to a children's hospital before. Yet again, a new experience. We parked on the Yellow Submarine floor if that tells you anything. =) Everything there is totally geared towards kids. If you want to eat at the cafeteria then you had better expect to eat under a mushroom top or inside of a train. We headed up to Dr. Carver's office to get checked in. When they called us back the nurses greeted Sadie at her level and then introduced themselves to us. Same thing with the doctor. When he walked in the room his attention went straight to her and then to Mom & I. That impressed me.

Dr. Carver confirmed that Sadie has asthma and a pulmonary sequartion. He suggested surgery. We asked a few questions and he said that we really needed to be talking to a surgeon. Mom asked if he could possibly refer us to a surgeon there. He said that he would, but it wouldn't be possible to see them today. We would probably have to come back in a month or so. He then left to look at her x-rays and scans, and to get us a referral. When he came back he said that he had great news!! He called his "favorite" pediatric surgeon and had him look at her scans. He said that he could see us right away...as in 5 minutes. Answered prayer!!!! Mom, Sadie & I ran over to the other side of the hospital, through security, around the mushrooms and trains and made it to the Pediatric Surgical Clinic. The surgeon that seen Sadie is Dr. Ostlie. Love Dr. Ostlie. When we checked in the nurses got Sadie right back. Dr. Ostlie walked in the room and went over to Sadie, got down on her level and introduced himself and played with her a little bit. Then he introduced himself to Mom & I. When I met with the surgeon in Wichita he sat down and told me that Sadie needed half of her lung cut out, this was a case that he had never seen before, and that she would have a 5 day hospital stay. He never really acknowledged Sadie during the appointment except when he examined her. Dr. Ostlie was different. He sat down with us and drew us a picture of the CT scan and how the surgery would go. He has seen cases like this before and averages about 12 a year. His approach is to try to do the surgery microscopically. If the tissue is outside on the lung then he can remove it that way. If the tissue is inside the lung then he will make a bigger incision and remove the part of the lung that is effected. Her hospital stay would range from 1-3 days depending on how the surgery goes. After the appointment I felt relief. A huge relief. He will be doing her surgery. I wouldn't trust anyone else with her. I really feel that God led me to him yesterday. Craig and I are both ready to get this behind us and have our little Sadie back with no worries.

Thank you again everyone for your prayers. Life has been hectic these last few days and will be even more hectic over the next month.