Nora had a good night last night, all things considered. We were forewarned that the first night after a major surgery like this is often rocky. It wasn’t and we are beyond thankful for that. Today they are only working on keeping her stable, which doesn’t seem to be much of an effort. Her precious little body is doing everything that it is supposed to.
I’m not going to post pictures of her for awhile because she’s been pretty beat up. Here’s a sweet picture of her little hand:
Things were really, really, really, horrifically awful yesterday. Nora was in septic shock. There was NO time to wait for the IV access team to arrive and even when they did get there, they too had a VERY hard time accessing any of her veins. Everything was shutting down. We counted 22 poke marks in her groin – and those are ones not under the Band-aid. In desperation they had to drill into the bone of her shins to get fluids into her. I am crying as I write this. She didn’t even flinch. William was right by her side and said he had seen this happen on TV as a last ditch effort to save a downed soldier while he was gettting helicoptered out of a war zone. Nora is certainly our little soldier and we were definitely in a war zone as we battled FIERCELY for her life. She was emergently intubated in the shock and trauma bay as they continued to give her fluids. After what seemed like an eternity, she was finally stabilized and brought up to the old familiar CICU. Things were so urgent that they were going to do the surgery right then and there, but they finally decided that she was stable enough to bring her down to the OR. And so we waited. Thank you Mom and Dad, Jesica and Tommy for allowing yourselves to be “hijacked by the Holy Spirit” as Jesica put it to be with us and to pray with us during that terrifying time.
Nora is hooked up to a billion tubes and wires and for now has an open wound just below her sternum extending through belly button and stopping just below it. The wound is covered with clear bandaging and is really scary looking, so I won’t share pictures of her right now.
As I said, Nora had a good night last night. We did end up getting some rest as our adrenaline storms subsided. Keeping her stable is the only course of action for today.
This morning as I approached her bedside to stroke her sweet hair, I smiled at a ray of sunshine that was LOUDLY and BOLDLY shining across her stomach. Its gentle warmth shined upon her, the hand of God, “I’ve got this!!! I’ve got this!!!” The Venetian blinds were closed too, I might add, but this ray of sunshine found its way to her right in the spot that needs healing. This is only a part of it which slightly resembled a heart: 
Tomorrow they will do more surgery. Please join us in specifically praying for nice PINK tissue. It is understandable if some parts can’t be salvaged, but we have witnessed countless miracles with this baby. God has shown through Nora that ANYTHING is possible.
One of the first messages I saw on Facebook this morning contained such encouragement for Nora along with these verses:
Good morning, precious Nora!
It is a day that the Lord has made. We will be glad and rejoice in it.
God loves you. And his love began even before you were born! “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb”
(Psalm 139:13)
Every minute of every day, God is thinking about you and planning good things for you.
(Psalm 139:16-18)
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
God knows you through and through – and loves you anyway. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more… or less. You are the apple of his eye!
(Zechariah 2:8)
God is with always with you, no matter where you go or what you face. You will never be alone; he is always with you in the midst of daily struggles and trials. “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”
(Joshua 1:9)
God especially designed you, just as you are.
God bless you precious, and may His face shine upon you.
======================
I got out of bed and fell onto my knees onto the cold floor in the dark, crying and thanking God for these words of truth and wisdom, for the knowledge that my baby girl had made it through the night.
I didn’t even realize until I just typed it out right now – – that last part: MAY HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU.
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN ANYBODY POSSIBLY POSSIBLY THINK THAT SUN RAY THIS MORNING WAS A COINCIDENCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have no more words. PLEASE watch this:
iwillcarryyou 
i have always loved that song and it is like it was written spefically for miss Nora Rose! I am so thankful to hear that princess is healing well and i pray for her upcoming surgeries although i have no doubt God will see her through! Love ya’ll
constantly praying for you!
Praying and praying…
Hallelujah. Still praying.
That is a beautiful message of hope and redemption; God does know sweet Nornor and He does have her, and you in His righteous right hand. The picture of her sweet little hand is so precious but makes me cry when I think of all she has been through; but we are here, your prayer warriors holding you guys up in constant prayer.
Such comfort in the Psalms:
Ps. 34:15: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry: vs 17, The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”
Sending you a big hug and lots of prayer
Wow, amazing the sun ray story.
Kiss that sweet little hand on my behalf.
I think she has a nice color and all things considered looks good. The incision and all the CICU paraphernalia may look scary but I think the worst was yesterday and is over.
I’ve seen children with open heart surgery going home after 5 days of postoperative and in her case it’s a simple surgery.
Let’s give her stomach mucosa time to heal while we keep on praying. There wouldn’t be miracles without obstacles to overcome !!!.
I’m optimistic now and, believe me , I panicked yesterday when you said she was on septic shock.
Try to get rest as much as possible while her little body heals. SLEEP , SLEEP , SLEEP.
Muuuaahhhhh 🙂
Wow! What a PERFECT song for a PERFECT little angel!
May The Lord continue to do his work through Nora.
Your strength and faith astounds me. Blessed!
What a fighter you have…continued prayers for pink tissue.
God Bless her and all who love her. I pray that her team of doctors and nurses continue to help her heal. Been thinking about you all and will continue to pray for sweet Nornor. xoxo
You are so right when you say Nora is your little soldier! I am glad to hear she had an uneventful night and is holding steady this morning! She has an “army” of prayer warriors out here lifting her up as well as her Dr’s and nurses! Yesterday when Nora was in the midst of her crisis, I was at work in the NICU at Good Sam when one of the other nurses who also follows Nora said, ” Nora is in the hospital and they are asking for prayers NOW!” We spread the word and wanted you to know prayers were flowing from the NICU at Good Sam yesterday! Hoping Miss Nora continues to have a peaceful day today! I will keep her in my prayers always!
No coincidence at all! What a mighty God we serve!
I am so sorry to hear of all of this and am crying as I read. I have all of you in my prayers and am offering all of my current suffering up for Nora. My little Mary with trisomy 21 is stable and so is her brother we took to Cincinnati Children’s last June but now my oldest who is 12 is ill with a life threatening disorder. Your writings even in the worst of times uplift me and give me more strength to carry on.
God DOES love you … and so do WE!! ❤
Praise the LORD! God knows just how to speak to us, and speaking to you through the ray of Sunshine on sweet Nora was so amazingly beautiful! I know our God is with Nora and you all! Praying for you all today.
Good Afternoon, you don’t know me but I am a friend of Sarah Ward and I am also a Mother. Thank you for sharing this special little Angel with us. I believe that God sends us Angels in human form and flesh to know HIm and His works and Grace. My 13 year old son and I pray for Nora and your family as have daily morning prayer on the drive to school. Bless you all and may the Lord blanket Nora with His warm hands and hold her tight.
Our prayers are continual! I shared; that song is perfect and beautiful!!
This made me cry. I know God’s love and healing is shining all over that hospital.
Thank you so much for taking time to let us all know how Nora is doing. We here out in blogland have her in our hearts, and are praying for her. Praying for continued progress! 🙂
Nora was on my mind early this morning! Continuing to pray for this precious, sweet, baby girl!
For some reason my 15 year old son has adopted Nora in his heart. She is on our prayer board and we pray for her like we know her.
Your faith continues to astound me! Continued prayers for Nora and the rest of your family.
Lil Nora has been on my mind all day and we continue to pray for her! Hugs!!! Kirby and Charms xxoo
God bless you Nora! Praying for smooth sailing tomorrow. You truly are
God’s Wonder.