Let it Begin

Here we are. Philadelphia.
It's the adventure we could not stop thinking about but felt would never come. It's finally begun.

We said our goofy goodbyes yesterday morning. Driving away from the house with my boys waving on the porch just about broke me in half. Don't get me wrong-- I'm all about waving good bye for a week to go to Tahiti or Hawaii or anywhere a little sand and some quiet time with my hubby is involved. But this was different. This was goodbye and I'm not sure when I'll be back. This was I will be on the other side of the country, but I will figure out a way to get you whatever you need. This was I will try to bring your little brother back a bit better than when we took him. I don't want many more goodbyes like that.

We breezed through the airport. My good friends and running buddies Randy and MaryAnn called a friend at Delta who helped us to our gate. Security was a breeze--I've honestly had more trouble going solo before. And we all did a happy dance for being allowed to pre-board!

Then we watched movies.

Ate cookies.

And played peek-a-boo.

McKay could not have been better. And except for the guy behind us who had to be separated from his daughter for making her cry (seriously!), the flight was great.



By the time we arrived, McKay was exhausted.



And it was HOT.



When we landed we were greeted with a voicemail that told us all of the local Ronald McDonald houses were full. Incredible. And incredibly sad. So we moved into the local Sheraton, took showers and curled up on the bed. Mac knows how to chill. I hope to take the same picture in a week minus the purple feet!


I brought all of McKay's bedding from home hoping to turn the hotel crib into a familiar and sleep-inducing sanctuary. Wait? He never sleeps at home! What was I thinking? Our first night was less than restful, but that may have had something to do with the 85-degree room. I think the power grid was on overload due to the record heat in Philly and last night we experienced a little energy rationing. Oy, it was hot!


We arrived at the Children's Hospital this morning for a battery of pre-surgery tests and exams. Mac was an absolute champ through all of it.



He had an echo, unsedated, which I was sure was going to go south quickly. But somehow he lasted almost an hour of being covered in goo and wanded over.


They even made him turn upside down so they could scope his heart from the vantage point of his neck. Seriously? What almost 2-year old lets someone do this? Big thanks to Tom & Jerry for distracting us through the experience.

When we arrived back after it all, McKay used the arm that had not been poked for blood draws to drive Thomas until he simply could not stay awake any longer. (I know. He's laying on a hotel floor. Gross. He was promptly sanitized following this picture :).)

So that's it. We're here. Travel was excellent. The hospital was ready for us. We have tomorrow to rest and play and then we're back on Friday for the real deal. We had the "talk" today right before you sign the "form" that says you understand all that can go wrong and likely complications. I hate that. I'm realistic, but much prefer to concentrate on all that can go right. And we are poised to have so much go right.

One last thing...

I have faced some questions about our decision to be here; to bring McKay to Philadelphia. To leave my other boys behind. And I want to explain why--

This decision was made with great difficulty and heartache. We are not drama seekers. We would have preferred the surgeons at Primary Children's in Salt Lake do this in a heartbeat--had they felt comfortable. The truth is that when we met with our cardiologist about McKay's need to take this next step and the fact that the hospital had not yet recruited a senior surgeon to replace our FANTASTIC Dr. Hawkins, McKay's case was presented to the other surgeons. Their response? "Does the family have other options? We will take the case if we have to, but if the family can seek treatment elsewhere, they should."

This is not to say that the surgeons at PCMC are not amazing, fantastic, talented, life-saving miracle workers. They absolutely are. However, in McKay's particular case, their lack of experience doing the Fontan on dextrocardic kids trumped ego. And referring us out to another facility--the nation's leading pediatric cardiothoracic center--with surgeons more seasoned in what McKay needs is the most amazing, fantastic, talented, life-saving miracle they could preform for him. And for that I am grateful.

Philly is hot and busy and poised for miracles. We have done all we can to prepare, now is the part where we let go and let God. We are in good hands all the way around.