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Eli resting after another big hurdle |
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January 16, 2018 |
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Eli Ashby, 6, is finally out of recovery, in a
room and resting at Seattle Children's Hospital.
His dad, Allen, is a trooper in Kootenai County
with the Idaho State Police, but when asked who
the real trooper in the family is, Allen, Eli's
mother, Jenn, and Eli's Boundary County
grandparents, Mike and Linda Ashby, Moyie
Springs, will all, and without a second's
thought, point immediately to Eli.
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Eli and Grandpa Mike |
Today was his fifth major heart surgery since he
received a mitral valve at St. Jude's when he
was five after his heart failed him.
Subsequent
surgeries saw him fitted with a pacemaker, saw
him go to checkups in Seattle with stellar
results, but then a slight glitch. More surgery
to help his heart power the million watt smile
that only seldom has dimmed despite the ordeals.
Always though, more hurdles lie ahead.
His chest now holds two pacemakers.
Allen and Jenn both hope for a break in his
trips to the hospital, hope for a break in the
pokes and prods so Eli might get a chance to
know the joys of being a young boy, but both
know his ordeal is far from over.
They look at their amazing young son often,
neither quite knowing from whom their son got
his indomitable spirit, the sunny disposition
that shines without waver. Allen suspects Eli's
steadfast courage was bestowed by Jenn,
Jenn knows heroic young Eli had to have
inherited his unquenchable bravery
from his father.
While Eli rests as he slowly regains his
strength yet again from the challenges few will ever
face in all their years, but which to Eli, just
six, have become commonplace, Allen and Jenn and
countless other family and friends cling tightly
to every good prognoses, every encouraging sign.
"According to his surgeon, surgery went really
well," Jenn posted to the
Prayers and Love for Eli - Wish and Heart
Surgery Updates Facebook page she uses to
chronicle the arduous journey her son is on.
"There was a point where there was some excess
bleeding, so his doctor slowed down the closure
process and made sure it was not continuing
before completely closing. It is something they
are watching for tonight. It took quite a while
in recovery to get him comfortable and into a
room, but he is settled in now and really
anxious to eat and drink."
Only a few days ago, on January 13, an
introspective post as the uncertainty of yet
another major hurdle loomed.
"My baby bear, today I watched you while you
napped," she wrote. "I took a quick picture, as
I usually do before your surgeries ... before
you get your new scar.
"Your beautiful tummy and
chest will soon hold not one but two pacemakers,
a mechanical valve along with four wires. I
looked at you and thought about how long this is
all gone on. How it is no longer new to you. How
when it all started it was such a huge thing for
us and everyone in our lives.
"As time goes on
and the freshness of urgent medical need wears
off and I see a shift in how people respond. I
also see a shift in you and your responses to it
all. As the world becomes numb or unresponsive
to your repeat trauma, you become more
sensitive. Your worries have increased. Your
mounting fear is now very apparent. You have
asked me every morning for the past three weeks,
'How many more days before my surgery, mama?'
"Tonight you crawled into my lap at the dinner
table, curled up and cried. I wish I could tell
you, in a way you'd understand, that I admire
you and your strength and that your courage is
beyond what should be expected of someone your
age. God crafted your bright little soul and
lovingly gave you to us. I am thankful for our
road, though it kills me to see you so broken."
And today, in the wake of another major surgery gone well,
the astonished and overwhelming gratitude that
washes over for all those who do
their utmost to try, each in their own ways, to
lift, even if only for a mere moment's breath, a
wee bit of the burden that should be no parent's
to have to bear.
"You all astound me with the love and prayers
you showered us with today - please know you
have our sincerest thanks," Jenn wrote in a
quiet moment as Eli slept. "Being in our
position, having a son who is so often in need
of prayers and kind words ... let me tell you,
it still isn't something that I'm used to. Your
words and prayers often leave me in tears and
always such a great appreciation for the
kindness and love of not only our friends and
family, but also strangers. Like I've said
before, thank you isn't enough, but other than
tears and thankfulness you can't see from behind
a screen, it is often all I have.
❤ Thank you." |
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