October 9th, 2012
I was beginning to learn that "patience is the art of hoping*." Whether I had a day full of tears or a day filled with holding Matilda, I needed to remember that she was still alive and there was still time for hope.
So when I was woken up by the resident informing me that Matilda's labs did not look good overnight, I reminded myself that the day was just beginning and there was more story to be told. I sat up and thanked her for waking me. She was young, but very passionate, and eager to find a solution. She told me that Matilda's ammonia levels were becoming more difficult to manage and that during rounds some new options would be discussed. She had worked overnight and wanted to give me the heads up before leaving the hospital.
It was around 6am and rounds usually concluded between 10-11am. So I kissed Matilda goodbye and raced over to the Ronald McDonald House to shower while Tyler read books to Matilda.
When I returned she was getting a bath. Her numbers may not have looked good, but she looked good. So when the ultrasound technician entered the room, I was surprised. I turned to Tyler for answers and he explained that while I was gone Matilda projectile vomited across the room. He chuckled as he relayed the story of a nursing student dodging the vomit as it flew across the room. I posted this on Facebook:
Matilda just got an ultrasound to make sure she doesn't have any stomach issues that are causing her to vomit. Results are, no surprise, pending. We'll wait to hear back from the radiologist.
We spent the rest of the day practicing patience, hoping for a miracle, and holding Matilda. Despite what the lab results were and how gloomy they appeared, we felt like we had our girl back. We knew we had some time and we wanted to spend every bit of it loving on Matilda.
*Attributed to Marquis de Vauvenargues.
