February 26, 2009

Friends,

Melissa and I would like you to know that we have decided to have Dr. Tweddell at Children's Memorial of Wisconsin (CHW) perform the surgeries on Baby Smith. We researched procedures, mortality rates, mobility rates, facilities and met with each of 3 surgeons at their respective locations in an effort to gather as much information as possible to make the best objective decision for Baby Smith. Dr. Tweddell and the care he will receive at CHW is the right choice for our son.

It is very important to us that Baby Smith is born in the same location as the first surgery. CHW offers this option. To ensure Melissa and Baby Smith are in the same location we will be heading up to CHW, a week before her due date, on March 10th to start inducing. We will "check in" during the afternoon of the 10th and they will start inducing Melissa overnight for the God willing arrival of Baby Smith on March 11th. We will be able to hold Baby Smith for a bit before they take him to the NICU where he will need to stay until the first surgery.

While in the NICU they will monitor his oxygenated blood levels and provide him medicine (prostaglandin) through the umbilical cord that will sustain him (keep the top hole of his heart open as it is in the womb) until the first surgery. During his time in the NICU we can spend as much time with him as we want to and we will be able to hold him. Dr. Tweddell will perform the first of the necessary surgeries (Norwood Procedure) on March 16th. After that Baby Smith will be going to the PICU for the next 4 or so weeks.

We wont be able to stay in the hospital after Melissa is discharged so the great social workers at CHW are putting us on the waiting list at the Ronald McDonald House across the street so we do not have to be far from our son. CHW will also provide us a pager so they can reach us in an emergency (we cant sleep in the PICU). Our son will be at CHW for at least 4 weeks.

After our son is born, Melissa and I will establish a blog on one of the sites available to us to ensure we can update all of you of the actions, progress, and happenings with our son. We have been on these types of pages and they seem like a great way to communicate information just one time that everyone can view. You can also post notes back to us. We wont be putting information on Face book and ask that you be cognizant that this is very personal for us and not for the larger broader audience.

Thanks for the prayers, cards, letter, and positive thoughts. God has blessed us with each of you.

Two Call outs:
Mike Budzynski- thank you so much for dropping everything and putting us in touch directly with Dr. Ilbawi from Hope Children's and Dr. Backer from Children's of Chicago. You saved us a number of calls and transfers by providing direct contacts through your networks. Sincerely....Thank you.

Allee Schuzer - I am overwhelmed by the person you are becoming. It is very generous of you to ask those that would normally buy you birthday presents not to but to instead donate to the Herma Heart Center and the Ronald McDonald House (the places that will be taking care of our son and us). For those of you on this email that do not know Allee Schuzer, you really should. This 14 year old kid is something else.

Your friends,
David & Melissa