Well, here we are again.  Standing on the edge of another surgery.  If you asked us a month ago if we saw this coming, we’d probably be in denial.  No, we’d say. Not at all. Our little girl is smiling and laughing. She gets into any mischief a strong willed four year old might touch.  She fights with her brothers and sisters just like any other sibling. No. We’d tell you, our little girl is just another normal little girl.  

But that’s not the case.  Emmie’s scans were reviewed by a leading cerebrovascular neurosurgeon (a neurosurgeon who deals with the blood vessels in the brain) from Stanford University, Dr Steinberg

Our “normal” world came crashing down last Tuesday when we heard back from that neurosurgeon.  The occlusion of the artery is almost completely closed. And while she hasn’t had a stroke yet, she is definitely at risk for one. His team also saw Moyamoya vessels.  She needs surgery.

We’ve spent the past week on the phone with her local neurosurgeon, calling insurance, reading research papers, consulting other people we know familiar with moyamoya and NF. Everyone seemed to agree.  Emmie needs an indirect bypass of her brain. They’ll take a temporal artery and place it on her brain. The prayer is the brain is thirsty enough to grow down into her brain and replace the artery that is closed.

Of course, we have spent the past week praying. And God has answered and re-confirmed for us again and again that this was the right thing to do for her.

Not only did we need confirmation that she needed the surgery but also about where to have it done.  We are so grateful for her neurosurgeon that fixed her neck. He has been a wonderful doctor and loves our Emmie dearly. However, we have the opportunity to have Dr. Steinberg perform the surgery and feel that his expertise in moyamoya is going to be a great benefit for Emmie.  

And that leads to where we are now.  We’ve scheduled Emmie’s surgery for November 15th.  

In true Emmie fashion, she is planning out all the things she wants to take with her on the plane and is wondering what car she’ll ride in.

Prayers through all of this are appreciated.

1. Planning childcare for our kids.
2. Arranging flights-We’re hoping to get a flight through Miracle Flights if we qualify.  Update: We qualify and are working on the paperwork now but need our itinerary as soon as possible to finish that.
3. Arranging our stay in California-that Ronald McDonald House will have openings or assistance.
4. Traveling with an excited and busy four year old and her equally busy and mischievous one year old brother.
5. And peace…our hearts are breaking that our little girl has to go through another surgery.  That she has something else she will have to deal with the rest of her life. She has such joy and peace and trust.  Please pray that we can be strong for her. n

For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”

Isaiah 41:13