Surgery #1

Sophie has her first (and biggest) surgery tomorrow (Friday, Aug 20th) at 10am. They will be doing a cholangiogram to confirm whether she has biliary atresia (bile ducts that are no longer working or "blocked"). If it is confirmed, (and that is what the doctor is expecting), they will then do the Kasai procedure.

Talking to the doctor on Tuesday about the procedure was a reality check for me. He didn't really tell us anything we hadn't heard or read already, but it finally sunk in. My hopes of getting everything fixed before she came home and then living happily ever after were pretty much smashed. Even if the Kasai works (which happens about 1/3 of the time), we will always have to keep a close eye out for issues and follow up with doctors (which could lead to a relatively "normal" life I suppose). But the doctor said that 1/3 of these surgeries last for a period of time, and then a liver transplant is needed, and another 1/3 of the surgeries don't work at all and a transplant is needed. Those are not the best odds. And that's just the liver issue - there may be other issues/syndromes that pop up as she grows up.

But we can't dwell on the "ifs". We just have to live day to day. I know that God will give us the strength to deal with whatever comes our way. He has already blessed us with so many gifts (wonderful family and friends, Owen, good finances, and each other).