The Bradleys: Summer and surgery

Surgery:

This Wednesday Ethan will be having his open heart surgery. We did pre-op testing last Friday so we are all ready to go. The plan is not the exact one we discussed originally, but it is a close modification. They plan on removing his current conduit and his aneurysm. They will put in a new larger conduit and relocate it to the correct side of his ventricles. They will then partially divide the ventricles leaving his VSD with a device that can be closed at a later date. If Ethan's body tolerates this "separation" and his ventricles take on the work they are supposed to be doing, then we can go back in via a cath to completely close the VSD. That will complete his separation of the ventricles! Ethan still has a common atrium, but I do not believe there is any plan in place to do anything with that now. If this surgery is successful it should bring Ethan's oxygen saturations into the 80s! He should be able to have much more energy, and will be able to run around and play without getting out of breath so quickly! He is so excited to be able to play and have fun!

This surgery is extremely risky and has never been done before. Pieces of it have been performed by our surgeon, but this actual plan with Ethan's anatomy is completely new and fabricated by our amazing team. Please please please pray hard for a perfectly successful surgery, fantastic results, peace and calm for Ethan and our whole family, and a quick and easy recovery! We anticipate 10 days inpatient if all goes well. Ethan has never had an easy recovery after surgery, but we are really hoping and expecting that since he is so much bigger, stronger, and healthier this time it will be much better!

We also had the opportunity to see the 3D heart model that was made for Ethan! It was absolutely amazing and we were so impressed with it! It was incredible seeing exactly how his heart is constructed and actually being able to hold it in our hands!

Chest x-ray

Ethan's 3D heart model!

Standing under his sign on the Heart Heroes wall

Lung function test

Pulmonology:
We saw pulmonology on Friday as well in order to be cleared for surgery. They were amazed at how well his lungs were doing! They are actually the best they have ever been! The docs were thrilled and said that this is the absolute best we could hope for with him to go into surgery.

Kentucky:
We went down to Kentucky for July 4th firework season again. We have a fireworks company with John's brothers (Midnight Madness Fireworks). Even though we had terrible storms July 3rd and 4th that were not great for sales, we still had a successful season and are busy planning for next year's growth! We had a great time seeing so many of our family and friends!

Stopped at Grandpa's Cheesebarn on our way to Kentucky

Grandpa's Cheesebarn car

Jenna and Callie

Wesley and Ethan playing minecraft

Tanner

Wesley

Ethan

Nan's party:
We were able to have lots of friends and family over to our house to celebrate John's grandma's birthday! Her 80th birthday is actually in January, but we were able to have family come in from out of state and everyone could celebrate her in the warmth! We had a great time and once again were able to enjoy spending time with the family!

Brooklyn

Family pic

Nan, Ethan, Callie, Wesley and Tanner

Kids bday parties:
Callie turned 13 and Ethan turned 9! I cannot believe how old they are getting already! We had their birthday parties yesterday and everyone was able to come and celebrate! We loved having everyone over and it was so great to see everyone!

Happy 9th birthday Ethan!

Happy 13th birthday Callie!

Callie and her best friends!

giant birthday donut!

Birthday movie to see Secret Life of Pets!

Callie's ankle:
Callie sprained her ankle in the beginning of summer. She was placed in a boot that was supposed to only last two weeks. When we went back to the doctor she had not improved, but she was also wearing the boot incorrectly so they replaced it. The xrays showed that she has a bone deformity or chip in the corner of a bone in her ankle joint. If physical therapy and the boot do not help we might need to have surgery in order to repair that bone. We definitely do not want to deal with that, so hopefully things can start to improve for her quickly! She is still in the same amount of pain unfortunately, but she will start physical therapy in another week and a half. Hopefully that will help her out and get her out of the boot soon.

Ethan was excited that he wasn't getting checked out at the doctor for once!

Callie's new boot

Vacation:
Callie also was able to go to New York to visit my sister and then to Florida for a vacation at Hollywood Beach. My parents took her and she had a really great time! Unfortunately I don't have pictures from this trip on my phone since I was left behind! :(

Band Camp:
Callie also was able to go to BW Music Camp earlier this summer for her flute. She was really nervous before going, but had so much fun and made a lot of great friends during her week!

Goofing off before her concert

Callie playing her flute in the concert at the end of camp week

First time in a dorm room!

Callie set up her dorm room bed

I think that is the basic recap of our summer. Ethan loved spending time at the splash pad and park in town this summer. We also participated in the library summer reading program and Callie's softball season. We are preparing to return to school (8th and 3rd grades). I don't know how Ethan's surgery is going to affect his start of school. I am really hoping that we fly through the recovery and he will be able to start school with everyone else (obviously with some accommodations since he will be on physical restrictions still).

Please keep Ethan in your prayers. Please pray for his doctors and surgeons. We have a new surgeon, and although he comes with high praise and an extensive surgical background we still are nervous with new doctors! Please also pray for a smooth, quick, and easy recovery. We definitely are not fans of being stuck in a hospital room for extended periods of time, so that is something we are not looking forward to! Ethan's behavior and ADHD have been horrible this summer, so we can only pray for lots of patience while we are inpatient and recovering! I will mainly be updating on Facebook throughout Wednesday, but I will definitely also post some updates here on the blog. we are so thankful for your prayers and support!