Part VI

July 21st -

They performed the emergency surgery this morning. Half of his small intestine had died so they removed that and a blood clot on his kidney. The next 24 hours are important as they expect that he may get sick like last Tuesday. Praying efforts are important now. Psalm 91:9 is what we're clinging to. God lives. Petition for his life. LoveMeg

Date: Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 11:43 AMSubject: Today

My cell phone is probably going to die today, I left my charger at the house. We had to leave on Monday to give the room to discharges but were allowed to come back yesterday, especially with his operation.

Now that things are beginning to calm down I can be a little more myself and less clinical.
The operation was good in the sense that he pulled through and was much more stable than the surgery on Tuesday. He did loose 40% of his small intestine, which for right now is ok. They won't have any way of knowing how it's going to function long term until we get him back up and going. They're going to be letting the lower part of the intestine rest and feed the top part. They repaired the ostomy and made it so won't have to operate until they need to reverse the ostomy. Which is all good. They did have to remove a blood clot they found on one of his kidneys. They think part of the reason he was bleeding so bad with last weeks surgery was because his intestines and gotten so scared that they had stuck to one another and the movement caused them to bleed. During the operation yesterday he coded and we were absolutely freaking out. The vent had gotten disconnected and stopped working but we didn't find that out until after they were done. It felt like angels were holding us, God is very much alive in us right now.

They do not anticipate that he will be off the vent for a few weeks. It's frustrating, but we keep a positive attitude that he's still here and that's all that matters. We have a long way to go. Little steps are so encouraging to us, when they ween him off of some meds, days or half days when he doesn't need blood, platelets or plasma, when his numbers are strong and good, that his coloring is good and so on. He got swollen up again after surgery yesterday but it wasn't as bad as last week and the surgical site hasn't been bleeding, it's just been oozing the mixture of blood and clotting agents like they need it too. Straight dark blood means that it's just bleeding.

We miss our baby blue eyes terribly. We can't wait to hold him and see him like he was just last Monday and Tuesday morning.

We are much encouraged by God. He really has been guiding us and his caretakers. I can't begin to tell you the full majesty of his mercy, strength and power that we've seen. The doctors have been so encouraged and the positivity that Jared and I have been able to maintain is not ourselves, but God alive in us. Every time I search the Word I see Him guiding me and I know beyond a reasonable doubt that he's guiding Avery and has him on a path to do amazing things for the Kingdom. I'm so proud to be his mother.

We are so inspired that people have been donating blood and platelets. Avery has had well over 25 transfusions at this point and gets platelets or plasma around every 12 hours. Donors have saved his life, and we encourage everyone who's asked what they can do to just find your local blood bank, American Red Cross or Hospital and donate. Doesn't matter what blood type, just donate if you're able. UNC hospital number to donate is 919-966-2370. You're saving Avery or someone else's Avery.

We still have a long road to go. Continue praying for us. The prayers have saved Avery's life.

Love to all,
Meg, Jared and AMAZING AVERY