Gracie’s first surgery is in just one week. We travel to Cincinnati Wednesday night, surgery is at 8:30 am on Thursday, September 8th, and as long as all goes well, we’ll only have a one night hospital stay and return home Friday night.
Two surgeons will be operating on Gracie for almost five hours. They will work on both of her hands…releasing the webbing between the nubs that are stuck together and also removing the little “ball” and releasing the constriction around the bigger “ball” nub.
This summer the surgeon told us Gracie needed surgery sooner than later and gave us a deadline of the end of summer. The “urgency” is with the constriction around her leg. Half of the constriction will be released and the other half will be done in another 6 months. She will have a zig-zag scar around her leg. If Gracie did not have this surgery to release the constriction, eventually her lower leg would have to be amputated.
Two surgeons will be operating on Gracie for almost five hours. They will work on both of her hands…releasing the webbing between the nubs that are stuck together and also removing the little “ball” and releasing the constriction around the bigger “ball” nub.
This summer the surgeon told us Gracie needed surgery sooner than later and gave us a deadline of the end of summer. The “urgency” is with the constriction around her leg. Half of the constriction will be released and the other half will be done in another 6 months. She will have a zig-zag scar around her leg. If Gracie did not have this surgery to release the constriction, eventually her lower leg would have to be amputated.
God is so specific in His timing. Our “match” with Gacie and then traveling to get her moved so quickly and we have had a great five months at home with her to bond before her surgery. The doctors and therapists have all been amazed at how well she has adjusted and grown! Praise God!
It truly is amazing what Gracie can do with her hands the way they are. She can pick up a single grain of rice. She can pull the head off of a lego person. She can pick up a single green pea and put it on the spoon held by her other hand. She can remove stickers from paper. The day we met her in China she pulled a quarter out of play dough. Ten fingers are overrated. :)
To be honest here, I have mixed emotions about her hand surgery. As I’ve mentioned before, the first pictures we saw of Gracie’s hand scared me…it was so unfamiliar. Then God changed my heart and eyes to really see Gracie. I love Gracie’s little hands just the way they are. This momma’s heart is grieving the surgery that will change the amazing little hands that God used to bring our daughter to us. I know the surgery is needed and will help her have more function. It is definitely a weird place for my heart to be in.
Please pray for Gracie’s heart through this surgery. Anything traumatic with an adopted child who has already been through trauma can cause a relapse in attachment and their feelings of security within their family. She cannot understand yet at her age what is about to happen….nor will she be able to understand that the casts WILL come off in three weeks. Her little world is about to be turned upside down, again. But I know God is great and will carry us through this. Thank you prayer warriors for your support and love.
On a side note...last week we went to paint Gracie’s handprint on a plaque as a keepsake. She had so much fun “painting” and squealed with excitement when I showed her the finished painting. Oh how I'm gonna miss those little fingers but I can't wait to see how God is going to use her "new" ones!
Please pray for Gracie’s heart through this surgery. Anything traumatic with an adopted child who has already been through trauma can cause a relapse in attachment and their feelings of security within their family. She cannot understand yet at her age what is about to happen….nor will she be able to understand that the casts WILL come off in three weeks. Her little world is about to be turned upside down, again. But I know God is great and will carry us through this. Thank you prayer warriors for your support and love.
On a side note...last week we went to paint Gracie’s handprint on a plaque as a keepsake. She had so much fun “painting” and squealed with excitement when I showed her the finished painting. Oh how I'm gonna miss those little fingers but I can't wait to see how God is going to use her "new" ones!