Miracles Do Happen!

Baby Ruby's surgery was a complete success!

There were a lot of concerns going into the surgery. They made a 1 inch incision below Ruby's ribcage. Through the hole in the diaphragm they pulled the stomach, spleen, and intestines back. Doctors were worried with the intestines because they grow in a circular pattern and if there is malrotation she could have feeding and digestion problems in the future. Luckily there were no problems with the intestines at all. Josh asked about the lung (her left lung was the one that was squished) and regardless of the size, the lung is doing phenomenal. They patched the hole in the diaphragm and they use some tissue from the esophagis along with a medical type of gortex that the muscle will eventually grow around. Finally, they patched her up!

Ruby is now recovering in the NICU. She is breathing great on her own and they have already turned the ventilator down twice. Also, doctors are finally using words like "phenomenal," "amazing," and "magnificent" when describing how Ruby is doing.

Next steps for Ruby are to slowly ween her off oxygen (or the ventilator) and begin to feed her. Right now she has IVs going into her belly button.

After the surgery everyone was so releaved! We had Tyler (whit's brother) go to 5 Guys Burgers And Fries and pick everyone up a Double Double burger. It was amazing how fast we scarfed those down. :) We were hungery!

Good job Rubes! Way to kick that diaphragmatic hernia's bootie!!!!!!