Bruchgefahr!

(excerpted from my sister's carepage website this weekend)

Saturday news...
Hi everyone,
Avery had a stable day on ecmo. Nothing new - which is good.
Her chest x-ray looked even a little better than yesterday - so keep the prayers for clear lungs with low pressures coming!!
She is still on schedule to receive her Left Ventricular Assist Device L-VAD) on Monday.
There is a huge black metal box in the hallway with the word "Bruchgefahr!"
in big red letters.
This means "handle with care" in German.
This box contains the artificial heart pump for Avery.
Of course to hear Mike exclaim this in his best German accent is a whole other experience :)
Mike - who vowed he would NEVER carry a beeper - now has his very own - courtesy of the transplant team! This way - we both can be reached anytime -
when the most important call we will ever receive - comes!
We went out for Chinese tonight and my fortune read:
"you will get what your heart desires"
We sure hope so!!
Keep praying!
Here is to a peaceful night with the exception of our phone ringing.
xoxox
Cheryl and Mike


Sunday news...
"From Hungary...to Ghana...to Avery..."

Hi everyone,
Another nice quiet day in the CICU with Avery.
Her chest x-ray is unchanged (which is good)
She is scheduled as "second case" tomorrow for the operating room - which means she probably will not go for surgery until about 12pm. Dr. Fynn Thompson said he wants to be fully available post operatively to monitor her - so this will free him up for the remainder of the day tomorrow.
She looks beautiful today and when I whispered in her ear and asked if she could hear us talking she knodded "no"....:)She is sporting a princess bun with a big pink bow that says "Bruchgefahr"! all over it in hot pink marker with fancy hearts :))
We will keep you posted.
In the meantime - I have placed a couple of links about Avery's surgeon Dr. Fynn Thompson for you to learn a little more about this amazing man.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5487217&page=1
http://childrensinghana.typepad.com/childrens_hospital_boston/profile-1.html
xoxo
Cheryl and Mike