16th Birthday Fun for Brody

We had a weekend full of 16th birthday fun!  Friends over Friday night and a family dinner at Jeff Ruby's (Brody's request) Sunday night.  You're easy to celebrate Brody!!  We love you BIG!  Happy Sweet 16!

 

Colby's 2 week post op wound check

It has been two weeks since surgery, and Colby is doing great!  He had a few pretty rough days the first week but still managed to return to school Monday morning...2 days after surgery!  He never ceases to amaze us! He has also been to his soccer games to cheer on his team, and I'm sure he provided a little coaching help as well.  We haven't let him go to practices yet, because let's be honest...we don't trust him to follow his restrictions.  Ha!  

He had a post op wound check this morning, where we got good news/ bad news.  Bad news is he needs another week to heal before they can remove the stitches.  

Good news is the incision looks amazing and is healing so well.  More good news is that this lead is performing better than his original lead, making the pacemaker function more efficiently!  New projection on battery life is 9 more years!!  Before the lead change, we thought he would be back in the operating room within the next 4 years.  

We are scheduled to go back next Friday to have the stitches removed.  Hopefully by then it will be healed enough to do so.  This will be just in time for Labor Day Weekend lake time!

Thank you all for the continued prayers and sweet messages to check on him.  

Happy 16th Birthday Brody!

I don't even know how this is possible...16?!?!?!  Happy Birthday to the one who made us parents...the one who first changed our lives for the better...the one who continues to make us proud every single day!!  Keep dreaming, keep working hard, and keep being YOU Brody!  You are destined for great things!  We love ya Boss!  

Heading Home!

Colby is cleared and headed home!  Praise the Lord there were no issues with bleeding today!  We are going to head home and hopefully get some rest.

Thank you for the continued prayers and loving messages.  We felt and appreciated each and every one! 

Surgery Day

We are blessed beyond measure that regardless of his circumstances, he's always able to shine a smile!  He headed for the OR about 1:30 and will hopefully be done around 5:30. 

Surgery went as planned.  His pacemaker lead has been replaced and all looks good.  He is still trying to wake up, but we know as soon as he does, he will be asking for his Subway sandwich!  

Thank you for all the love, prayers, messages, and positive vibes.  We love you all very much!

Colby is ready!

After lots of encouraging messages from friends, this incredible yard display from the Harpole Family, and a family dinner with Taylor Washington, one of Colby's biggest supporters, I think Colby is ready for surgery day!  Thank you all for your love and prayers!

 

Cardiology Check Up

Colby had his regular 6 month checkup with cardiology last Tuesday, and we didn't get the "all clear" like we had hoped.  Colby's pacemaker isn't working.  After an x-ray, they determined that the atrial lead was fractured and no longer connected to the heart tissue.  We left the appointment with a monitor that he would wear for a week (he wasn't happy about having to wear this on his birthday) and a lot of questions/ concerns.

Without the pacemaker doing its job, Colby dropped right back down to his very low hearts.  This makes him feel tired all of the time.  Because of this, they called us Friday afternoon to move forward with scheduling surgery.

So, Colby will be having surgery this Friday to replace the atrial lead.  This should require only one night in the hospital, so we are hopeful to be back home with Brody by Saturday night.

It has been 4 years since his last surgery, which is when they put in the pacemaker.  No matter how old he is or how many times we've been through this, surgery never gets easier.  Prayers for a successful lead revision with no complications would be appreciated.  Also lots of prayers for Colby as he recovers.  They estimate about 4 weeks of down time, which I think has been the hardest part for him to accept.  He is very sad about not getting to play soccer for the next month.

We are anxious but hopeful.  God is always with us!  Plus, Colby is one of the bravest and strongest people I know.  This is just another chapter in his incredible story! 

Brody's first NPL weekend of the Fall Season

Brody's soccer team kicked off their Fall Season with an NPL Showcase in Raleigh, NC, so Jason and Brody flew out August 5.  I hated that they had to leave on my birthday and hated we all couldn't go together, but there will be plenty more soccer games to enjoy in the coming months!  The team had a great weekend winning both their games!

 

Nashville SC Game

Colby and I continued our birthday weekend celebration together with the Nashville SC game, and we had so much fun!  I love spending time with my boys doing things they love!  Thank you Jason for finding us the perfect seats at the last minute.  We missed you and Brody, but we know y'all are having fun in NC with Brody's soccer team!