Day 1- The Recovery Begins

She’s PINK!!! Her fingers are pink, her toes are pink, and her feet are a pasty white, instead of blue!!

Jennifer and Donald have been into see her (obviously) and she looks great. She did awesome, she was the perfect patient and the perfect case. Everything went very well. Payton was off the respirator before she left the operating room and now only has a face mask for oxygen.

They did redo the connection from her first surgery (the norwood procedure) because of the narrowing that was discussed a few weeks ago when she did her Heath Cath. She’s only on 2 IV medications and they will dial those down over the next few days, she can’t leave the CTICU until she’s off the IV meds. She has 3 chest tubes for drainage (one for each lung and one for the heart) and will take those out when they are no longer draining fluid. Jennifer said that by this time tomorrow she could be down to only one chest tube. The final tube (from the right lung) will drain the longest.

They want her to be eating a regular diet and not have any drainage from the final chest tube before she can go home. Jennifer will be staying with her 24/7 since they can’t sedate her completely because she’s not on a ventilator (which is good!). They have taken photos which will be posted at some point. Apparently she doesn’t look as scary as the last time.

If you are planning on visiting she’s in the CTICU in the first room on the right, in the first bed on the right. Payton still has a tough recovery ahead but things are looking good, so keep those prayers coming.

Aunt Melissa