THE FEEDING TUBE IS OUT!!! (and Esophagus Dilatation #19)

Outtake from 2-year pictures...so sweet!

Lucy's Feeding Tube is out.  The procedure went very well, as did her 19th dilatation.  We are going to move from 6 to 8 weeks between dilatations going forward, so that is great.

Pre-surgery car race in the hallways of Children's!

In case you are not familiar with Feeding Tube removal procedures, they do not stitch up the patient afterwards.  The thought is that the stomach and opening from the Feeding Tube button will heal up on its own after a few days.  Jason and I were drastically under-prepared for what this would mean.  The past 36 hours have been a blur of crying Lucy, major messes from a gaping hole in her stomach, laundry, more gauze and tape than I could ever count and a very emotional household.

I'll post more details about the procedure and aftermath later when I am able to have a more optimistic perspective.

Bottom Line:  Lucy is the strongest, bravest little girl I know and I tell her that countless times a day.  This too shall pass!  What does Romans 12:12 say?  "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  this is a season for all three!