MRI

We got up VERY early to make the 3 hour drive for Teryn's MRI. She had slept in her Elmo pajamas that GG brought her in the hospital. She looks like such a big girl in them.

We were glad that we left as early as we did since we got into a lot of traffic once we got close and came upon the school zones. Then when we got to the hospital it was quite a challenge to navigate the hospital and find exactly where we needed to be. Finally we arrived in the "basement" of the hospital and the outpatient MRI department. They were doing some remodeling do at one point we had to literally lift the entire stroller just to get over the threshold and enter one of the doors. We arrived one hour before our appointment to check in as per our instructions. An hour and a half later we were called back to meet with the nurse. He asked us for more detailed information about Teryn's health history. He explained that she would receive general anesthesia through an IV and that she would also be intubated. I explained that finding a good vein on her is almost impossible now. We were also concerned that it may be a more difficult intubation since she had been intubated less than a week prior for her surgery. The anesthesiologist came in to speak with us. She was a very nice older lady who is actually retired but continues to work in the department because she loves it. We both discussed our concerns and she decided that we needed to take a few extra precautions. They ended up calling the anesthesiologist at our home hospital to fins out how she was intubated. The machine they used was a machine located only in the ER. So......they decided to have 2 more anesthesiologists come down as well as another nurse. The plan was to go up to the Operating Room and have her intubated there. (It had to be done there because the machine cannot be taken down by the magnets in the MRI) Then they would take her back down for the MRI and then back up to recover in the surgery recovery area. Their thoughts on having her recover in the surgery recovery was that there would be more doctors, nurses, and resources available if there were any complications. Scary thought that this would be needed.

We were led up to the OR by 2 of the nurses and when we got to the doors they said, "OK. We will take her from here." All of a sudden it became very difficult to just hand her over and be on the opposite side of the doors. James and I talked and I think that it is more difficult to not be in control after you have learned more. In the beginning I had no clue of anything that was going on and left every single decision to the doctors. Now that I have spent countless hours doing research myself and had numerous conversations with doctors and specialists in all areas I know that the doctors don't always have all the answers. They do their best but there is a reason it is called "practicing medicine." There is only one physician who truly knows all the answers and that is my Lord Jesus. So, I just prayed that he would hold Teryn during this procedure as he always does.

James and I decided to go downstairs and get some lunch since it would be about 2 hours before we would be able to see Teryn. We have been to many hospitals and no matter where you go, there is one thing that is constant, the food is not that great.

It was a beautiful day so we went for a stroll in the courtyard and took some pictures of Daddy with the statues.

While we were waiting the nurse called to say that the intubation went very well Praise God. She also said that it was very difficult to get a vein for the IV. I figured as much. They put her to sleep with gas and then used ultrasound to get the IV. I am so glad I didn't count the sticks until I got home. Between her hospital stay and this procedure, I counted over 35 sticks! She had bruises on several. I just wanted to cry. I know that everything being done is for her good but it is still SO hard as a mommy to sign consent for something to be done that you know will hurt your baby even if the pain is only for a few minutes.
When the MRI was done they called us again and said that she did so well they would keep her downstairs for the extubation instead of having to go back to the OR. A few minutes later they let us go back and sit with her. We sat for about 30 minutes and talked with the 2 nurses and the anesthesiologist. They were very sweet and had already become smitten with Teryn.
She began waking up a little so they let us go ahead and go home.
Aside from the crazy details of getting things started, it went well. We should have the results when we meet with the neurologist again on the 27th. Please continue praying for good results. We are hoping to not have to go the neurosurgery route. Praying that things are stable and even improved.