Home at Last!

It seems like FOREVER since we went in for surgery two Mondays ago! After Kenzie's frightening seizures/strokes last week, we were kept in the hospital several more days for close monitoring and further testing. Although it was awful watching Kenzie endure several difficult tests, pokes, and prods, we were finally released on Monday to go home! Couldn't WAIT to get out of there! We were extremely happy to be leaving having had no infections, a relatively smooth surgery, and minor damage from her strokes.

Thankfully her EEG (basically a full brain function test) returned normal and doctors informed us that they believe she will make a full recovery! This was AMAZING news to hear! Her left arm still isn't moving up to par, but we will work on that. And it's sure a small price to pay considering the damage that could have occurred. We are extremely beyond grateful. As for her heart, tests revealed that it is functioning exactly as it is supposed to following the surgery. Yay--suuuuch a blessing!!!

Right now we are working on recovery. It hasn't been an easy road, but it's getting better! Thank goodness for Mom Joyce being here to help us take care of this little punkin! One of the side effects of this particular surgery is that blood backs up in the brain causing a massive headache. Kenzie was also put on a seizure medication which can have some severe side effects including bad stomach issues, pain, etc. And after a week in the hospital, we think the little sweetie became super paranoid of more tests and pokes--who wouldn't!? Of course since she can't communicate with us any other way than crying, and it has been difficult trying to figure out how and what to do to help her. Today was a great day though and we made some progress. Up until today, she hasn't been "herself" at all. She's been EXTREMELY irritable and unhappy, and seemingly in a lot of pain, which absolutely breaks our hearts to see. After some conversations with doctors, she has been taken off the seizure medication on the assumption that the benefits are not outweighing the risks at this point. Even since stopping the medicine today, we have started to see "Kenzie" come back. She is much more calm, smiley, and getting back to her sweet self. I can't express what a HUGE relief this is to see. We were told to continue to watch her closely for more seizures, and as long as she doesn't have any more, she won't have to be on an anti-seizure medicine. As you can imagine, we are praying that she is finished with that chapter of her life and that things will continue to smooth out.

Although things have not exactly gone as we hoped, we are more than thankful for where she is at this point, and are SO glad to be home. As always, we absolutely appreciate the continued prayers for our peanut!