“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
St. Paul
We have been waiting for this day to come for two years; John’s second surgery. It’s time for the conduit in John’s heart to be replaced. He has out grown the one placed when he was three weeks old and this morning the doctors at Stanford will place a bigger conduit.

As many of you probably know, John was born without a pulmonary artery. It was amazing the reconstruction that was done on his heart at only three weeks old. And it was quite a journey living up in the Bay Area for three months waiting for our sick baby to heal. Since then he has made so much progress. We take him to physical therapy and occupational therapy every week. He meets with an early intervention specialist twice a week. And he started speech therapy a couple weeks ago.

John still doesn’t walk without a walker or crawl and he cannot speak. But he is sitting and he’s communicating! That boy is so stinking cute how he signs for “more”. And the smile on his face when you know what he wants can melt any heart. It took a year and half for John to be able to sit up on his own. We never gave up, and he worked so hard. Seeing him finally sit on his own was one of the most rewarding and victorious moments I’ve ever experienced. I have literally never been so proud. This sweet child works hard! And he is the toughest kid I know.
We know God has big plans for this boy.
Surgery today went well. It was much faster than expected. The surgeons opened him up and took out the conduit replacing it with a bigger one. They also stretched the arteries allowing more blood flow between the heart and lungs. There was some bleeding, but they were able to contain it and give him something for clotting. Currently he is resting. The icu team will start waking him tonight or tomorrow.
Please pray with us for his recovery. John already lives in pain, and who knows how much more after this surgery. Pray for minimal pain and good pain management for what he does have. Pray for protection from infection, clots, and seizures. And pray that he does not regress in his development.
Please also pray for Henry and Ellie who definitely know something is up and are feeling the stress too. They love their brother.
We are thankful for you all for coming along side us. All the prayers and words of encouragement mean so much more than I can express. Camera Du