Pokes and scopes and scans, Oh My!

     ...So now it is time to disassemble the parts of the jigsaw puzzle or to piece another one together, for I find that, having come to one end of my story, my life is just beginning...

     Today was the day, the day we have been dreading, the day we have been looking forward to most.  The morning light brought nothing short of intense tears and heartache as we knew what had to be done, we knew the risks....

     {Insert back story}On Tuesday March 27th around 11a.m. Emma had stopped breathing as they arrived at the Olive Garden.  On Tuesday April 3rd Emma had an MRI scheduled, once sedated they were unable to vent her and she coded once again.  As we came into this week we had the care plan meeting which unfortunately wasn't as informative as originally planned due to circumstances like Emma developing pneumonia.  We did still achieve getting everyone on the same page, next plan of attack would be a bronchoscopy later in the week and then a retry on the MRI for the beginning of next week.  When they came back to us with a scheduled date for the bronchoscope of Tuesday, April 24th, this was a big fat no for us.  Even the doctors agreed let us just stay away from major events on Tuesdays for the time being.  So now it is set, they will take Emma to the OR and sedate her for the bronchoscope on Friday April 20th.  On to bigger and scarier news, lets throw in the MRI the same day as the scope.  Now, typically killing 2 birds with 1 stone is a great option, however in Emma's case we just worry the longer she is under and being worked on the more trauma/set backs that could possibly occur -however, with that said this IS Emma and I have faith she can rock this like no other!  {Back to our scheduled programming}

     The morning comes and goes, without fail!  Emma did amazing!  And get this we have answers!  We have been unable to get her off the oxygen since she came to the hospital but have not had solid answers as to why she is still needing it.  Today was finally that much needed relief, of an answer.  The scope showed that Emma has Bronchomalacia and Laryngomalacia.  Also Emma's Epiglottis is curved/floppy instead of flat.  On the left one lobe practically collapses when she breathes in, this is because of those conditions which basically mean soft/floppy cartilage.  So, the even better news, these are conditions she can/will grow out of!  As she grows up the cartilage will firm and continue to improve, so will her breathing without needing oxygen!  Well, this is the expected outcome of these findings.  Of course we understand that Emma is her own little lady, but regardless the outlook is very good!  The MRI shows that every piece of the brain that is suppose to be there, is there, nothing is nothing more, nothing less.  There does show a little bit of 'extra' open space of fluid between the brain and front/side of the skull.  This isn't necessarily a concern at this point, just something they will monitor for possible degeneration later on.  They will recheck her around 6-12 months.
     So here it is, we have made it through today.  We have much needed relief, followed by much unexpected exhaustion!  One tends to not realize how much the adrenaline of worry keeps you going until that final influx of answers come in.  Daddy just crashed out for about an hour nap, Mommy is running 100 miles an hour with all these positives and keeps bugging Aunt Sami with questions as we try to finalize our shirt design ideas... of which most of the replies given are a cross eyed look of confusion -like she really expects to get an answer out of this... she should know better! 
:Aunt Sami

Babies are angels that fly to the Earth, 

their wings disappear at the time of their birth, 

one look in their eyes and we're never the same. 

They're part of us now and that part has a name, 

that part is your heart and a bond that won't sever,

 our babies are angels, we love them forever.