Pastor Pusch

This Monday, June 15, we will take Jovie to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where she will undergo a surgery to fix her cleft palate. We’ve known about this surgery for just over a year now as we first learned about her condition at birth. It’s hard to believe that it’s time. For months I’ve been saying that it’s months away… now it’s only days; 3 days left to be exact. We’re confident in the medical staff at Vandy as they have been extremely helpful and kind to us. We are thankful to God for giving Dr. Gowdy the ability to what he does. We turn Jovie over to His care. Regardless as to how confident we are, my heart breaks for her. I will never forget taking her to Vandy Children’s heart specialist as they attached the EKG electrodes to her body, I about lost it. We all know that an EKG is no big deal, but to see my helpless daughter laying there with only here diaper on attached to about 5 wires, my heart couldn’t take it. The good news then was that the cardiologist gave Jovie Madelyn a clean bill of health. She’s a trooper!

What is a cleft palate? Over the last 14+ months we have been asked this question at least once a week and the best way I can describe it is to say that Jovie has no roof to her mouth. If you were to take your tongue and start with your teeth, move past your gum line, all the way to the top of you mouth; that’s what is missing; the very top to the back of her mouth. The picture to the right shows how the mouth did not come together as it should have. Obviously, the cleft palate has led to a host of different issues. From the beginning, Jovie could not use a regular bottle as she had no ability to suck as the air flow would continually circulate through her mouth and nose. Without a palate, the next stop is the nasal passage walls as there is nothing there to separate the two. Have you ever tried to suck through a straw that had a hole in it? That’s how doctors describe what happening with Jovie. Although she will try to suck (whether it’s a bottle, sippy cup, paci, etc.) air would escape and not allow Jovie to draw any attachment. The cleft palate has also led to some issues dealing with fluid on her ears. We have been blessed though as Jovie has been able to avoid some other faults commonly occuring as a result of the cleft palate. For instance, the doctors told us from the beginning that Jovie would never be able to feed herself and that we would always have to us the special Haberman bottle until she were to come off of it. I am happy to say that Jovie figured out a new technique and was feeding her own bottle in no time. Also, it’s common for cleft palate babies to go through numerous severe earaches and to this date, Jovie hasn’t had any.

Cleft palate Surgery. As mentioned, Jovie goes in Monday for her repair surgery. Somehow it’s considered an outpatient surgery, although we’ll still spend upwards of 3 days/2 nights in the hospital. During the surgery, doctors will go in and do a couple skin grafts from within her mouth, stretch it, and use that skin to form a roof to her mouth. Yes, believe it or not, it’s all skin up there. There is a 20% chance that she would have to have another surgery if the skin doesn’t patch up like it should. That tells me that there’s an 80% chance that this procedure is all that she will need. I like 80%. That’s it. The doctors talk about this procedure as we would talk about tying our shoes. Also, during the palate surgery, they will drain whatever fluid is on her ears and insert tubes to prevent further irritation (temporary tubes I believe).

Recovery. Here is where Rena and I are bit nervous. For about three weeks, Jovie can’t have anything in her mouth other than actual food and drink which alone will be challenging for the first little while (sippy cups have to be cut down and all foods must go through the blender). As a way to prevent her hands from going in her mouth, the doctors told us that she’ll have to wear arm braces that will keep her from doing so. We believe this is where the real challenge will be as she will have no clue as why her arms have to be restrained. Jovie is a very lively little girl and I can’t imagine what she will think about the braces. Only time will tell. We pray that she’ll get used to them somehow.

I’m sure I’ve left out all sorts of things, but this is all my brain is processing right now. We’ll try to keep everyone informed next week as to how everything went.

Prayer Items:
1. Jovie- Pray that she’ll have a smooth morning on the 15th. She will not be able to eat or drink anything that day. We are scheduledto be at the hospital at 11:45 so that is  a whole morning we’ll have to deal with. Also pray that overall she’ll do well with everything from the anesthesiologist, doctors, nurses, recovery, and patience.
2. Doctors and all those involved in the process. More specifically pertaining to the surgery, pray that Dr. Gowdy’steam will be able to extract enough skin from within her mouth to do the procedure. Not being able to do so would result in them having to go to the back of her throat for more which can potentially lead to speech and other complications down the road. Dr. Gowdy doesn’t seem to think that will be the case, but it is one of those things that he has to mention as a possibility.
3. Mommy and Daddy – Strength and peace on Monday. Patience and endurance during the recover process. (My brother told Rena that she’ll have to take care of Jovie’s dad on Monday. He’s probably right. Remember the EKG story?) I wasn’t sure if I was going to mention this or not, but it’s real and I know you’ll be praying. This process brings about with it a whole new set of expenses. Although she is covered by medical insurance, we all know how these things work.

Thank you so much for praying for us. We have already begun to see cards and emails come through letting us know that people are thinking about us during this time. No words can express our debt of gratitude. Continue to pray! Thank you so much for all of  your love and support both now and what I know will come in the days ahead.

Blessings,
Eric, Rena, and Jovie