Hard Night!

Dad here. A hard night is probably not a proper title and Avery doesn't really want to re-live last night so I am going to attempt to explain the constant fragile state of little Bela's life. At about 11:00 pm Bela's O2 sats were dropping into the 60s and suddenly her heart rate dropped below the 100s, so Nicole, Bela's nurse began assessing. Within 30 seconds her sats dropped into the 20s and heart rate in the low 40s as well. By then, things were in crisis mode, doctors and nurses scrambling all over. Bela's nurse was manually giving Bela breathes as she was fighting against her respirator. Bela was completely Blue and lifeless. As Avery cried explaining this all to me over the phone just after happening, she said that she thought that was it and that Bela was gone. One of the ICU docs was standing over Bela prepared to shock her heart and bring her back, but just as she was about to shock, Bela's heart rate began to rise and her sats as well. Within another five minutes they were able to stablize Bela. They are still not sure what caused her crash, but think there must have been some flem or fluid lodged in her breathing tube.

She has remained pretty calm and stable since then. Once again we count our many blessings and cherish every moment with our sweet little Bela.

Comments

The Silly Nilly Family said…
Wow, that is so scary. A crazy look at the reality you guys face everyday. You guys are so strong and We love you so much. Praying for all of you and sweet little Bella.
August 30, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Mom said…
Also praying for you Tanner, Avery and little Bela....our thoughts are with each of you....xxxooo

Cherringtons
August 30, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Anonymous said…
Can't imagine what you guys are going through right now. Wishing you all strength and peace of mind right now.
August 30, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Doreen said…
What a difficult night. It's hard to see those pictures of little Bela, I can't imagine actually being in your place. What a scary time. We're praying for your family.
August 30, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Wendy said…
Bela is amazing. I am constantly amazed by her will to live. I think it's because she loves her mommy and daddy so much! We keep praying for all of you. We love you all!
August 30, 2008 at 12:48 PM
cait said…
I'm so sorry that you had to watch that ave... I just cry thinking about that. She is such a fighter! I'm in awe of your little family. Loves.
August 30, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Sally Jensen Interiors said…
I'm so sorry for all these up and downs...I'm so glad that little Bela is such a fighter and doing well today...Still here if you need anything.
August 30, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Dallas and Krista said…
I can't even imagine having to see my baby go through that. Hang in there, you guys. We love you.
August 30, 2008 at 2:45 PM
The Simmons Family said…
That little Bela continues to defy the odds... our prayers are with you! I can't imagine the fear that Avery felt as she helplessly witnessed all that. HUGS and PRAYERS from us always! Hang in there Bela... it's a tough fight, but we know you have it in you!!

Andrea
August 30, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Erin said…
Wow so sorry to hear such a dramatic change from yesterday. But once again she has pulled through and is not done with her fight. I know this time cannot be easy, but I pray you feel the sweet peace only the Lord can bring. Hang in there and we will continue our fervent prayers.
August 30, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Life Unscripted said…
Tanner and Avery, I am for a loss of words right now. I am praying, so very hard right now, I am glad Bela stabalized but I understand the critical state that she is in.
Sending you our hugs and love

Jenna and Lily
August 30, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Maren said…
Your sweet little baby girl is such a fighter. We truley do hope and pray that everything will go well for her. You guys are examples to so many people of enduring hardships but staying strong and close to your Heavenly Father. If their is anything we can do just let us know.
The Bloomers
August 31, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Transplant 2- Honoring her donor, and her Aunt Ju

Image
Early in the morning on October 23rd, Tanner got a phone call that his sister, Julie, just a year and half older than him, had passed away. My sweet mother in law had to receive this devastating news from Bela's hospital room. Although Bela was unaware of all of it, at the same time they were helping my mother in law just outside her room in the hall, Bela's heart rate shot up to 180 and her rhythm went crazy for about 3 hours until they finally got it under control. We still don't really know why, most likely her heart telling us it was nearing its end. In the late hours of that very same day we got the call we had waited for for 11 months. A match had been found for Bela. Tanner had already decided he wanted to sleep there with Bela that night.  As hard as this hospital stay was becoming, there was a tangible peace being there with her in that room.  When he was woken up with the news that night, he stood in the hallway outside her room and wept as the flood of emotions o...
Read more

3 weeks out and doing great!

Image
Bela has been doing pretty darn good. I'm amazed by her.. as usual. She dosn't want to be held back any longer! She begs me to go to the park, got to the store, get back to anything normal. We're taking it slow, but she's been out to the park a couple times when it's been not too busy and she's so happy to be sitting in the sand with her shovel in hand. Sometimes it's like she didn't skip a beat. She has times still though where she seems tired, or grumpy, or like something bothers her but she just can't quite tell what it is. But overall, oh my gosh! 3 weeks post-op and she's a rockstar! I'm just so darn proud of her, for doing something so hard and for coming out of it so well. She tells everyone that she just got her heart fixed and sometimes even shows them. I'm never quite sure how to react when she pulls her shirt right up. It's like she's actually almost proud of it, as she should be, but I cannot understand how...
Read more

First transplant post

Image
This space used to be very healing for me. I wish I never would've stopped documenting here...I love knowing the first 5 or so years of Bela's life were well documented. But as I sit here with the familiar view of her hospital bed and sounds of beeping monitors, it feels almost necessary for me to write here again. Bela has had 12 incredible years of living life since my last post on here.  We were getting really comfortable with our cardiology appointments every 4-6 months, endocrinology every 3-4,  bloodwork every couple months, and occasional MRIs, procedures, or trips to the cath lab. Life has been full and so good. She's traveled a ton, ate a lot of good food, hung with friends, participated in theater, and found so much joy in her simple but rich life. We also had two more kids in that time.. more chaos and more love.  I don't know if anyone will still look for and find this blog looking for hope for HLHS, but I hope so.  We've now been inpatient listed for he...
Read more