strong enough

We didn't think we'd be here again:

at Stella's bedside in the cardiac ICU waiting for {another} heart surgery.

My heart completely breaks for Cara & David, as they've had sleepness nights and had to come to grips that the baby who seemed to be recovering so well from the first heart surgery will be back on the operating table.

My sweet little niece. She's so beautiful. So loved.

It's been 10 weeks since her TAPVR repair.

The doctors said that scar tissue could be a complication but was rare.

My sister's been a champ, being a 24 hour nurse for her baby (which takes more guts than my 12 hour shifts taking care of other people's babies... that's for sure.)

She has put in her NG tube "faster than a NASCAR tire change." (David's words.)

She has been to countless follow up appointments.

We all breathed sighs of relief at her recovery progress.

But, at her routine ECHO last Monday, they found narrowing of the pulmonary veins and sent her to the cardiac ICU at Phoenix Children's.

After multiple tests, and discussions amongst the cardiac team, they plan to do a 'sutureless pulmonary vein stenosis repair.' My understanding is that the sutureless approach will prevent scar tissue build up in the future.

It has been hard to see her struggle more to breathe as the days have gone by this week as the pulmonary veins have backed up blood into the lungs.

And, I can't even imagine what it feels like to get the phone call at 3:00 am that your baby is being intubated and is in critical condition. (That was last night.)

As of now, surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7:30.

We are thanking God that she didn't have to go to emergency surgery last night or today.

Her huge support team will be there praying her through it.

The staff at PCH says she has "a lot of people loving her."

You can say that again!

I heard this song on the radio as I drove home from the hospital Sunday. I am so amazed at the strength of Stella's parents, that is obviously not from themselves, but is God's strength carrying them through.

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." -Phil. 4:13

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses...in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:10

HE IS STRONG ENOUGH.