Tom and I went to bed here at the hospital around 11:30p.m. last night. Tom woke up on his own at about 1:30a.m. and said he was going to go check on Gracie. I fell back to sleep (I had about 3 hours of sleep the night before and was completely and totally exhausted). He came back into our room and said that things were not good and that the surgeon was in her room operating on her! I was in complete and total shock and felt like I was in a dream. When I got to her room, the surgeon, and about 10 other assistants were there working on her.
Her heart had completely stopped beating and the nurses and ICU doctor gave her manual CPR for 38 minutes until the surgeon got there. They immediately opened her back up and put her on what they call the ECMO machine. This machine is similar to what she was on during her surgery. It is a heart and lung bypass machine. They were able to stabilize her and get everything regulated again with her now being back on heart and lung bypass. The surgeon talked to us for quite a while after that and said that he was sorry and does not know why she crashed like that. He said it could be related to what happened in surgery when they went to put her patch on and she did the same thing.
At this point, she will be on the ECMO machine for at least 3-5 days. They are letting her body rest and then will try to gradually turn the machine down and see if her heart will do it's functions on it's own. This is the key. The machine is doing all of her body's work for her right now. We need to hope that once they think she is stable, that her little body will start to be able to do all of it on it's own. They will not keep her on this machine for more than about a week.
The surgeon said that this of course is not good news. They do not know if she will have long term effects with brain function or not. However, he said that babies DO come off of this machine to function on their own and that there is HOPE. He said at best, she's looking at a 50-50 chance. The next 2-3 days will just be watching/resting days to see how she is doing.
We plan on giving her a name and a blessing in the hospital tonight. We love our sweet baby so much and feel your love and prayers coming our way at this very difficult time. She is a sweet spirit that has blessed our lives so much already.
There may not be much in updates for the next little while. She should just remain stable until they start trying to get her off the ECMO machine in a few days.
Thanks again to everybody for their support and prayers.
19 comments:
Oh my gosh you guys, I can not imagine what you are going through. We all just need to remember to have faith and that miracles CAN happen! So we will be praying for one. We love you both and baby Gracie too!
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hang in there. Gracie is so beautiful!
Michelle @ Axiom
Wow little Gracie and the whole Gledhill family has already been through so much. We have kept you in our prayers for the past week and had a special little fast on Sunday. You will be so glad that you have kept such a great journal of this journey!
Thanks for keeping all of us updated on how things are going. I am sure there will be a special spirit with you tonight when she receives her blessing. We will keep you and little Gracie in our thoughts and prayers as she continues on her journey.
We are praying for your family as well as the doctors and nurses taking care of little Gracie. I hope that you are finding strength in each other, the gospel, and most of all in the Savior. love - Amy
I am so sorry. Please know I am thinking of you and praying for Gracie, your family and the medical people helping her.
Words cannot express how sorry we are to hear your news. Gracie and your family is in our prayers and we still have hope and faith that she will pull through this, hopefully this is just a bump in the road.
What better place for Gracie to be as she continues her fight. Your whole family is in my prayers. A scary time for all of you. Thank you for allowing an opportunity to stand in the gap with you. God bless. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know.
Harry
I wish I could be there to see little Gracie. I know of other miracle babies who pulled through even when all looked hopeless. We plan to have a special fast tomorrow for her. I know through everyone's faith and prayers, and if it is the Lord's will, she can have a miracle too.
My heart goes out to you guys. Tyler, too, was placed on EMCO after flat-lining 4 hours after his Norwood. He had CPR for about 40 minutes prior to getting put on ECMO. He is now smiling and working on rolling over. There is HOPE!! I promise. Please call if you need any support whatsoever. 925 457 6909. I know that Tyler was able to vist our Heavenly Father during his episode.
I am Shauntelle and my little baby Kaidence has spent months at a time at primary's as was on the "Berlin Heart" waiting for a heart transplant. We have watched your blog through our other PICU heat Buddies and want you to know that our prayers are with you and your family. These times are terrifing yet amazing all at once. We know that you will get the strength and peace needed and that you will be guided as you make decisions for your sweet little girl. Please know that you are loved and that Heavenly Father has his hands in all things. Miracles do happen. Kaidence suprised all of the doctors and PICU staff and Dr. Kouretas was her surgeon as well. Keep up the Faith and believe in what your heart tells you. Just when you think things can't get worse they can, but just when you think you are at the end of your road you are not.
With Hope and Love,
Shauntelle
Kaidence's Mommy
www.4mykaidence.blogspot.com
We will keep hoping and praying and then do it all a little more....Brynn
Hi Tom and Michelle, my name is Courtney Alvord. My husband and I are friends of Tiffany your sister-in-law and we heard about baby Gracie through her. We have been praying for you guys and for your sweet new baby. We will continue to pray for her health and your comfort. Our thought and best wishes will be sent your way. Good luck, we hope to hear that a miracle has blessed your family and that Gracie will be safe and healthy.
We have been following your blog and are sending many prayers Gracie's way. These heart babies are a true gift that have special spirits!!!
Hugs,
Mike & Family
Dear Gledhill Family, We are a family of a heart baby as well. Please know that we are praying for all of you and especially your little Gracie. God Bless, Michelle Kilgore
http://tadhgmichael.blogspot.com
Tom and Michelle-
We are continuing to pray for Gracie and your family!! I put her name in the Los Angeles temple and will do so in the San Diego tample as well. I know our Heavenly Father is holding you in his hands as you take this frightening journey. May he bless your family with strength and courage. We love you guys-Shari (Tiff's mom)
So, I have no idea who you are, but I know Heidi, who posted a comment, and she linked over to your blog. My prayers are with you and sweet little Gracie.
We believe in miracles!
Love, The Lambert's
Our prayers are with you!! Our heart babies are little fighters and Heavenly Father is watching over Gracie at this time. Keep your spirits up and know that many people are praying for little Gracie!
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