Bouncing Back

What a day!

Seeing Sam go off to surgery today was, we hope, the hardest thing Katie and I have been through or will go through in our lives. It was as much the not knowing would be found as it was whether or not he would make it. When we got called to the Operating Suite after the surgery, it was the longest walk ever.

As it transpired, he handled the surgery really well and the hole in his diaphragm was able to be stitched together with just the tiniest patch to cover what couldn't be sewed up. So from that viewpoint, all is good.

What Sam faces now is a pretty major adjustment in his anatomy; his lungs have room to grow and expand, his heart can move back to where it should be and his bowel, spleen and stomach need to learn how to behave in their rightful place. Hopefully his DNA will kick in and all will happen smoothly. On top this the poor little 1 week old has just had major abdominal surgery.

All that said, Sam has done nothing but prove just how tough he is all week. And already he has given clues that he wants to get on with his life by being really stable.

As for Katie and I, we are hugely relieved that this stage is past us. It's been hanging on us since we got the news back in August. Now we can focus on the next stage of helping Sam get better.

Again Mum, Dad and Em were at our beck and call when we needed an Ollie fix at a moments notice. Having them live within a stones throw of the hospital and being so supportive is proof that we were chosen for this for a reason. Sam's being given the best chance possible.

To further add to the family show of solidarity my beautiful Nan got herself admitted to the same hospital 2 days ago. I now have my wife, my son and my Nan all within 40m of each other. How convenient for me. Love you Nan, get well soon. Looks like Christmas day might be in the John Hunter Hospital.

We are expecting a rough but positive few days for Sam whilst he fights back.

Mummy and Daddy are proud of you beautiful boy xxx