Here's where Max will be born!

Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, is where Dr. Kays is...so that's where we want to be!

To read and/or learn a little more about CDH and Dr. David Kays, check out this website built by parents that Dr. Kays has helped. http://www.realhopeforcdh.com/

We went to Florida at the end of April to have a consultation with Dr. Kays and Dr. Richards, who is the OB/GYN who'll deliver Max. We went first to an ultrasound and OB appointment with Dr. Richards, who immediately made up realize we were in the right place! We got more clarity and answers from that appointment than the many I've had here is Phoenix (every week and a half to be exact! ahh). Dr. Richards recommended that I return at 36 weeks, to begin steroids to strengthen Max until 38 weeks. Then I'll get induced, and if that goes longer than about 4-6 hours I'll have to have a C-Section done to avoid any trauma. After Max is stable, he'll get his surgery done, and have an average of a 5-7 week recovery in the NICU. What a relief meeting this doctor!

Next, we went to Dr. Kays office. He is the Chief of Surgery in the pediatric unit at Shands, and also a professor of medicine at the University of Florida. He spent two hours with us, explaining every part of the surgery and recovery process. It's really intimidating and intense what our little baby will have to go through, but I feel so confident we are in the right hands. Dr. Kays' kids have a survival rate of around 80%, compared to Phoenix's 50%. Also, he projected that Max's "odds" are about 90% of being just fine after surgery, so we are excited that he's confident that Max's situation is very treatable. Then Dr. Kays took us to the NICU for a little tour, to see what we would be coping with after surgery.

Thank GOD for this opportunity!! We are in the best hands in the country, as far as this disorder is concerned, and I'm so humbled and blessed that so many people have been keeping Max in their prayers! So, that's what's new, I am excited about our time in Florida. Other than regular appointments, ultrasounds every two weeks, nothing new should really be happening for the next 10 weeks. Then...BABY TIME! :) I'm 25 weeks now, so actually thats 13 weeks left, but 10 weeks until I'm on maternity leave for work. :)

More to come...