One Year Later

Makenzie is so happy to see her Big Sister Caroline after her surgery.
Mommy and Makenzie just minutes before her surgery.

Daddy and Makenzie in her crib at Riley. The poor little thing just couldn't get comfortable so daddy joined her in the crib. She went right to sleep.

Thursday night in the Riley ER. They had just put the IV in her arm and she has the cast over it so she won't pull on it. It is about 2 in the morning and neither one of us had slept in days.

This was during the week leading up to her surgery. I kept her in just her diaper most of the week and had a towel on her bed because she ran such a high fever.

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One year, 52 weeks, 365 days. It's amazing when you truly think about it. A year can seem like forever. Especially when you are waiting on something exciting like a family vacation, the birth of a child, or a birthday. But when you are leading your normal everyday life, a year can go by so fast. In a blink of an eye, your children are a year older, you have celebrated another wedding anniversary, and sadly the time has just slipped away from you.

One year ago, on April 4, 2008 Makenzie had emergency surgery at Riley Children's Hospital for a severe bladder infection. The days leading up to her surgery were horrible for her and for me. I had Makenzie in the pediatrician's office every day for one thing or another. During that time she was diagnosed with a bladder infection and given antibiotics. The following days were so hard, she continued to have a high fever, and just wasn't a happy camper. As a mother, you know your children better than anyone and I knew something was more seriously wrong with her. She was inconsolable, wouldn't eat, and just not her happy smiling self. Roy and I had decided that if we did not see an improvement in Makenzie by the next morning (this is the forth day) we would contact her doctor at Riley.

Makenzie was born with two ureters connected to her right kidney and she was initially scheduled to have surgery to correct this problem on April 15, 2008. We had seen Dr. Kaefer several times during her 6 months and felt confident that he would be able to help us with Makenzie's illness with the bladder infection.

Let me tell you....Our God is good. My prayers were answered on Thursday evening, April 3rd, when Dr. Kaefer's staff called to confirm Makenzie's surgery for the 15th. I had told the nurse what was going on and asked if it was possible to speak with Dr. Kaefer. She said she would get back with me as soon as she could. Dr. Kaefer personally called me back within the hour. I was able to describe Makenzie's symptoms and he said to bring her to Riley immediately. He felt that there was something more severe going on than a bladder infection. He was correct.

We rushed to Riley that Thursday evening, and within 24 hours, Makenzie was in surgery. I can honestly say I have never been so scared in my lifetime. My poor innocent, sweet daughter was in surgery and I couldn't do anything to help her. I knew she was in the most capable hands, but it still hurt so bad that I couldn't protect her from this infection.

Dr. Kaefer was able to poke a hole in Makenzie's bladder and he said the infection just oozed out like toothpaste. No wonder she was so uncomfortable. He was able to look around in there (the kidney area) and come to find out, the surgery she was schedule for on the 15th didn't need to happen. I honestly don't remember the medical jargon he used but I was just so thrilled she wouldn't have to have another surgery.

Within hours of her surgery, Makeznie was sitting up in her bed smiling again. We couldn't have been happier. Nor could she. As awful as that week was, it was a blessing in disguise. I am so thankful for Dr. Kaefer and his staff for calling that night. They saved my precious baby girl and healed her. So one year later, we celebrate Makenzie's health and her happiness. She is one of the happiest, funniest, and lovable babies I have ever met. I'm not biased or anything. :)