Longest day, Sebastian’s surgery | September 13th, 2013

Sebastian's Last photo before the Surgery

The morning broke to a series of events. Alicia, was checking out of the Metropolitano to come join us at  the “Base Camp”Ernesto and I had set up in hospital Integrate.

"Sebastian’s open heart 

surgery was to start at 11:30."

While I waited for my love Alicia to arrive, I could not help the feeling of helplessness a father feels when there a nothing he can do physically, so I prayed.

I stumbled over to the little chapel, kneelt on my knees and started to pray,  I wept bitterly as I prayed for the Lords will, and that the Lord would let my son stay with us so we can love and raise him. I prayed for strength for his loving mother Alicia, and that I would be strong enough to comfort her no mater the outcome.

Once Alicia arrived, we embraced then went up to see our little precious son before the big operation.  Alicia’s Mother and my mother were by her side and giving us comforting support and aid.

I remember writing this when he was about to be rolled into the operating room. I could hardly see out of my eyes because they were swelling with tears.  

Today We Fly

Your little body torn
Scars on you will adorn

My son I pray
with me will stay

But if be better
go back to his maker

My love will always for ever
Shadow him, On earth I guide him

But if conditions send him above
He will guide me with Gods tender love.

Your so precious to us I say
A gift of God, on this blessed day

The Time for the surgery came and went, as we watched the Little Sebastian disappear with our hearts behind the operation room doors.

Friends and Family around the world were praying for him non-stop. From as far away as New Zealand, where my mothers sister resides.

My brother James sent us this beautiful artwork, to signify the prayers and concern world-wide.

James Cox my brother's artwork signifying world wide prayer 

Hours crept by, and five hours later around 5pm we were told little Sebastian survived the surgery. Joy cannot be measured when these words hit our ears. He was out, but in critical condition. His oxygen levels had increased and his tiny heart, which had just underwent so much, was pumping more blood throughout his body.

The doctors monitored him intensely for six hours after the surgery. They were incredible, so concerned in caring for our little son, as the whole team stood by him.  We put Alicia back in the room to rest and Ernesto and I waited, waited and waited.

Doctors monitoring Sebastian after Surgery

Horror struck my mind when the doctors came out of the room with stark faces. They explained they suspect a “Clot” in the bypass tube from the surgery. Clots in the heart can lead to cardiac failure. They said they strongly recommend he goes back into the surgery room and that the operation is repeated.

The hardest choice of my life transpired in seconds. This was life or death, I asked the doctors if his chances were better in re-surgery then waiting to see if indeed he had a clot. They said “absolutely”, they recommend immediate re-surgery. I consulted with Ernesto for a second and then looked at the doctors and said, “where do I sign”, this was not a time to linger on indecision.

Prep work began instantly for the second surgery.

Little Sebastian so tiny, yet so strong and only a day old, went into his second open-heart surgery with arms raised fists clenched like he was a mini Rocky.

The second surgery was much shorter then the first, but seamed like days. Finally he came out, surrounded by doctors shuttling him into ICU. The beep of his pulse, was like something out of a fictional movie. Time seamed to pause, and I did not realize I was holding my breath as I watched him be secured.

The second surgery was a success, we took a deep breath as a doctor came out and explained it went well.  But they proceeded to tell us there was a time when we almost lost him. His heart started to decline but they brought it back to normal pulse and that he was stable.

We were so overjoyed our sweet little son was still with us. Now we waited in prayer and anticipation for our baby boy to recover.

Mother and Sebastian, after second open heart surgery

The happiest dad in the world!

The recovery was a journey in it’s self.

To be continued.

Thanks for reading this post, tomorrow I will write the next part of this story which transpired over the last several days. Once the blog gets up to date, I will write daily updates.

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