The Unexpected

We're a month and a two weeks into our new life and adventure. Becoming a parent has been so incredible. Rewarding, challenging, exciting, and sometimes scary.

From birth Ellison has had a little "honk" when she breathes. We started calling it her "goose" noise even before we left the hospital. The Peds docs and nurses all told us that it was most likely congestion due to the fact that c-section babies don't get the fluid squeezed out of them like natural birth babies do. Sounds funny now that I type that out... In the beginning Elli had issues with weight loss which led to a few extra trips to see the doctor. After 5 weeks and trying different things to relieve the congestion we realized that it wasn't improving. That's when the doctor referred us to an ENT to get a better idea of what was going on.

Little Elli in her swing!

Anyone who is a parent knows that anytime your doctor refers you to another, specialty, doctor you start to get worried. The ENT specialist gave us the diagnosis, Ellison has laryngomalacia.

Laryngomalacia: The epiglottis is small and curled on itself (omega-shaped). Approximation of the posterior edges of the epiglottis contributes to the inspiratory obstruction. (From B Benjamin, Atlas of Paediatric Endoscopy, Oxford University Press, NY, 1981,

This means that our little baby girl has a partially obstructed airway, and is going to have to have a surgery to fix it. She is going to have this done at Devos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. We met with the surgeon and he had to scope Ellison again and he gave us the same diagnosis. As of now the surgery is scheduled for October 18th, we have an appointment with the surgeon again on October 15th for a final decision. We are told that the doctor who will be performing the procedure is an incredible doctor and that the staff in the PICU there is second to none. While this makes us feel a little better about all this happening we are still scared for our little one.

As an extra precaution the doctor has had us put her on an apnea monitor. So there are two electrodes that are attached to her sides that measure her heart rate and monitors her respiration. It's made dressing her and diaper changes quite a challenge but it's also given Mommy and Daddy a little more piece knowing that our angel is breathing.

Those who already know have asked what they can do for us. At this point all we can ask for is prayer. We hope that you would pray for Elli, for the doctors and nurses who will be performing the procedure, and for peace and some sort of comfort for us.

This is not what we expected as first time parents, but with the grace of God, and the love and support of family and friends we are making the best of what we have.