Open Heart Surgery Picture Progression

Mom, Bei and Dad celebrating at home (Thursday, October 16, 2008)

Bei was visited by his close and personal friend Melissa Gilbert and her co-star of the Little House of the Prairie play which is now showing in the Twin Cities. Bei also made the 5:00 news. If the link doesn't work, go to www.wcco.com and look for a story on Bei...just kidding on Melissa Gilbert. It was a video on the top right hand corner when we searched for it.

(Thursday, October 16, 2008)

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Thursday morning Bei woke up and definitely wanted to go home...along with my sister Nanette we strategized all morning long on the best way to convince the doctors that we should go home. The surgeon was the final decision maker and he laughed when he saw us because he said I heard that you guys would be meeting me at the elevators with your bags packed. We thought of it but didn't go that far. Seriously, we had the best care and I was very impressed with everyone, but a hospital is no place to get any sleep! And our little guy needs some sleep to heal!
(Thursday, October 16, 2008)

Bei's first meal was 24 hours after they pulled the ventilator, it was Cheerios. We are waiting to go to the step down unit, where we finally will have a private room. We were in a bay with 4 other beds with only curtains separating which they didn't draw. Tuesday night neither Bei or I got any sleep because it was loud and the lights were on the entire time. (Wednesday, October 15, 2008)

I crawled in bed with Bei and pretty much didn't get out til it was time to leave the hospital. I reminded Sam, our nurse, to tell the new nurse on-duty about the hourly feet massages he gave me and if she had time she could also paint my nails...who said High Maintenance??? (Tuesday Afternoon, October 14, 2008)

Bei mouthed the words Momma...momma, but his voice was so hoarse from all the tubes. 20 minutes after the ventilator was pulled he said clearly "ee aa aa", aka Veggie Tales.

Hence, he is pointing to Veggie Tales on the TV screen and dancing with the celery stalks. (Morning Tuesday, October 14, 2008)

Tuesday morning they are weaning Bei off of the ventilator (Morning Tuesday, October 14, 2008) and getting ready to pull the tubes to see if he can breathe on his own.

Post Open-Heart Surgery, Bei is in ICU and on a ventilator. (Monday, October 13, 2008)

The night before the big surgery, Bei is helping Dad with a few last minute chores around the house. (Sunday, October 12, 2008)