GOING HOME!!!

It has been a long few days and we are excited to be going home!  Each hospital visit always come with little tender mercies and a little fun.  Ricki's sloth theme has been fun and it has brought a lot of smiles to those who come into her room..  Angels have been good to look after Ricki and she has always got to get some visits with dogs during her stays. And most important she has had some pretty amazing nurses and techs that have been so attentive and good to Ricki.  Three days in a row we were blessed with the same amazing nurse.  That rarely happens and we enjoyed getting to know Kylee.  One tender mercy was they got all sorts of stuff from the surgery in her hair and Ricki was having a tough time with her head feeling so dirty and not being able to wash her hair till the end of the week.  Kylee and our sweet tech got instructions from neuro-surgery and carefully used a bottle of distilled water and washed parts of Ricki's hair to help her feel better.  The tender mercies and kind acts can't all be listed. In our church meeting we attended yesterday someone spoke and was telling us how her friend that would come and visit commented what a reverent and special spirit she felt when she came.  The mothers response was that she was confident the Savior himself walked these halls because he loves the little children so much.  We have felt his love and the tender mercies that many here are so inspired to give.  We are grateful for such good care and are happy they have got Ricki in a position to go home!

Sweet Visits

Ricki continues to be in quite a bit of pain.  All of our children and some family that live close by have been able to visit or facetime with Ricki over the past few days and it really has brightened her days and lifted her spirits. Ricki gave one of her nephews the bendy toy from her breakfast tray and he was so thrilled and kept saying " You saved this just for me?"  Ricki giggles now when she sees the bendy men because it reminds her of her nephews.  We are so very blessed!   As I was visiting with one of my sons he mentioned how Ricki has been through so much it is not as traumatic but it is sad that it is easy to take it as not a big deal .  He said he had to remind himself that it was brain surgery and that is a pretty big deal.   More than ever  she needs those cheerleaders to cheer her on.  She puts on a brave face but their are many days that are really tough. This past year I  have watched her dig deeper than she has had to dig to find strength and determination.  Over the past 6 1/2 years she has been so strong but this past year her first tears from the fatigue of fighting this battle have been shed.
With each experience I have gained a greater compassion for  all those who experience rare medical challenges where their only option is to endure and the only medicines they have are the healing powers of family, friends and the sweet acts of kindness to keep them going and enduring through their challenges. Ricki may not have a cure but she has loving family that are always their for her and she always seems to get those random acts of kindness from friends just when she needs it. 

   

Slow down

Ricki did not sleep well because of  her pain.  They finally got her on a good pain management regimen and she is doing a little better today and is taking plenty of naps.  Prior to the surgery Ricki decided she wanted to have sloths as her theme for her hospital stay.  In a rushed and hurried world we live in it has been interesting how much I am learning from Ricki as she jokingly tells me to slow down because she is a sloth and goes at a slower pace. We have had fun collecting sloths and Ricki drew a beautiful sloth holding out a rose as if giving it to the viewer of the picture.  I love this picture because it not only reminds me to slow down but to be kind.  

 It was interesting when they moved Ricki from the ICU to the NTU,  Ricki and I were coloring and the nurse walked in with the tech and just started unplugging everything and moving the bed out the door. It surprised us because Dr. Brockmeyer had come in earlier and said Ricki would have her MRI before we moved to the NTU so we were caught off guard.  I reminded the nurse that we needed to slow and and move like a "sloth"  but  she didn't I sensed she was stressed  and it ended really throwing us all for a loop as we were frantically trying to gather everything up and not forget anything.  Even as they were rolling Ricki's bed down the hallway there was confusion as to what room they were taking her. (The room they had written on the paper was to the infant unit) That would not have been a good thing having an incredible headache and having sweet babies in pain crying... Not a good combo. 

 Long story short I learned a good lesson this morning that even when we feel in a hurry we need to take a breath and slow down.  Everyone benefits.  My dad over the years always loved sharing what he was learning from the scriptures and I have always remembered him telling me you never read anywhere that the Savior was rushed or in a hurry yet he went about accomplishing great things and blessing many.  

Going through this Journey with Ricki is challenging but we continue to be blessed as we learn much from Ricki and her sweet example of endurance and patience and even the value of slowing down. 

Successful Surgery

The Surgery went well!  We love Dr. Bollo and are so grateful for his care of Ricki.  When he came and reported they were finished he said they had monitored her vision nerves carefully during the surgery and felt there were no complications.  He said the tumor resection went well and will be monitoring her and she will be thrilled (not) that she will have another MRI tomorrow of the brain to ensure everything is still looking good.  I will hold my breath for just one more night.  The first night after brain surgeries is always the most difficult time. So once we get through tonight I think we should be sitting good.  Thanks again for all the many prayers in her behalf.  I know angels have watched over her and that we continue to see miracles daily in our life! 

Slow but Sure

Today we are back at Primary Children's for Ricki's 3rd brain surgery. Ricki has several brain tumors that are growing slowly but sure. The one on her ocipital nerve has been causing some visual disturbances and increased migraines and Dr. Bollo is feeling it is time to get it out before it becomes even more difficult and the risks of damage increase.  Before surgery he was feeling pretty confident that the tumor should come out fairly easy and it should not be a complicated surgery.  So here we sit in the waiting room.  It is always a little nerve racking to be one of the first ones in the waiting room and to watch families come and go.  We are grateful however for the peace and strength we feel for the many prayers in Ricki's behalf and know that God is watching over her.  We will post more as we get the results from her surgery