The Knowin Owen Blog: The Surgery that Wasn't Meant to be...

So, as many of you know, Owen was scheduled to have bladder surgery last Tuesday. And, as many of you also know, the surgery did not happen.

I wish I could give you a complete, thorough explanation, but I cannot. The reason? Know one on this Earth knows. However, I am quite confident that our loving Creator held a far greater plan on Tuesday, December 6.

Owen's plan for surgery was to take about 4 1/2 hours. The plan was to take him back, have the urologist look into his bladder via camera (cystosocopy) and then allow the general surgeon to place his g-tube. After the g-tube was placed he would come talk with us and the urologist would begin the bladder surgery.

After we sent Owen back we took our places in the waiting room. I noticed several families being called to the welcome desk and overheard the receptionist tell them that their child's surgery had begun. She never called our names. After over and hour I told Michael I was a little concerned because she hadn't called us. He assured me everything was fine that they don't always have to do that. So, about 30 minutes later our name was called to go meet with our doctor. No surprise here, it was part of the plan.

We were taken back to a little room a waited a few minutes. Finally, the door opened, but it wasn't the surgeon we expected. It was the urologist. (Keep in mind we were thinking he was operating on our son at the time...) His words began like this..."Okay, so Owen is fine..." My heart sank. It was evident from his tone that something wasn't right. Then, walks our other surgeon. So where was Owen?!?

The doctors went on to explain that the surgery had been cancelled. When Owen was intubated and anesthesia was administered his heart began beating very quickly, and having a spontaneous rhythm. He was having a type of SVT called atrial tachycardia. They tried many things to stop his heart from beating so quickly, but his blood pressure began to bottom out. After several minutes, the operating team decided it was simply not safe to move on.

This has never happened to Owen. He has had 3 surgeries in this life, and 2 in the womb. Never, ever had an issue. Simplest answer: a reaction to the anesthesia. By the time Owen made it back to recovery and we were allowed to see him he was doing fine, with a perfect heartbeat and breathing on his own.

Owen's doctors were clearly shaken about what happened. He was sent to the cardiac floor for continuous heart monitoring for at least 24 hours. The results: A PERFECT HEART. :) The doctors did extra testing using an EKG and ECHO to test the shape and valves of his heart. Again, PERFECT.

Now, I didn't get to share the wonderful, amazing, most wonderful part of this "pretend" surgery, as we like to call it. :)

Owen's urologist was able to perform the cystosopy, as it was the least invasive part of his surgery. He used a camera to get an inside peek of Owen's bladder and ureters. And you know what? He was impressed! He was very pleased with what he saw and blessed us with the news that this surgery may have been unnecessary. However, should he actually need the bladder surgery, he can perform it at the time of transplant. So all the prayers for Owen's bladder have clearly been working. :)

I firmly believe the Lord was calling out to us last Tuesday. Never, never in the course of Owen's life (before birth as well) has a doctor been "pleased" with his urological system. We have prayed that Owen's bladder would heal and stretch, and we have seen His hand at work! I was talking with another kidney Mom before Owen's surgery and we were talking about how evident the Lord's hand has been in Owen's life. I remember saying that it's possible the doctors could go in and see a perfect bladder before his surgery. I think I said it, but I'm not sure I really, really believed it. Well, He's got my attention now!

Thank you, thank you for your prayers for our family and Owen. We were completely overwhelmed with the phone calls, texts and messages we received on Tuesday. We are forever grateful that so many of you love our family and are storming the gates of Heaven for our boy!

Continue to lift up Owen and be in agreement with us that his healing is coming. Continue to believe with us that his bladder will be healed at the time of transplant. After some extra heart testing and meetings among all doctors, we should have a transplant date. There was talk of moving up the transplant date, but it will need to be worked out with our donor and doctors and apparently scheduling isn't easy! Just be in prayer, that whatever the date, we will know that it is blessed by the Lord and He is guiding every decision made during this time.