Lafayette Regional Medical Center, Lafayette, Louisiana, March 25, 2012~

Colbie Colbert writing.  I hope and pray this finds y'all well ... I'm afraid I'm not doing as well as I would like.

My precious girl, Kaitlyn Ashley, who has Down syndrome and heart problems, had another surgery on her heart two days ago and is still in a lot of pain.  The nurses and doctors have her sedated, so she doesn't pull out the tubes and wires that's invaded her body, but her vital signs look good.  I pray this continues; still it's hard seeing her in pain and looking so helpless.

Kaitlyn was in surgery for over four hours on Friday.  It was one of the longest waits of my life.  You would think that after three heart surgeries under her belt, I'd be used to it, but to tell you the honest truth, I'm not.  So much can happen, and I am trying to trust in God to get us through this uncertain time.

When Dr. Chalamar came out and told me that Kaitlyn had sailed through her surgery, all I could do was shake his hand and cry with joy.  I am hoping and praying that this will be the last surgery that Kaitlyn will need for a good long while!  She had a leaky valve; this was why she was having so much trouble.  Now hopefully she will be able to run around and not get short of breath once she heals!

Today, Dr. Chalamar said that Kaitlyn had passed the critical stage and he felt that she was going to be okay.  Lord, I sure hope so, for I hate having to go through this!  I hate having to see Kaitie go through this; a child shouldn't have to endure so much in the way of pain and/or suffering!  She's only eight going on nine years old!  She should be running around, laughing and playing, not lying in a hospital bed fighting for her very life yet again!

I have been camped out here at the hospital; the Pediatric Cardio Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) has become my second home.  I just thank God Van (my husband)  has been at home, taking care of the other children (Emma-Kate, Diamond, and Granger) while I stay with Kaitlyn!  I don't know what I would do without him; I love and cherish Van so much!

Well, I am going to go take a shower, then go grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria before I return to see Kaitie; I stink and I am hungry!  I will write in here again soon; keep the prayers coming!  They are the ones making a difference in my daughter's recovery from heart surgery!  I would greatly appreciate any (and ALL) prayers!

Take care and God bless!

~Love, Colbie.