My Hero

Here is our brave boy, right before he was wheeled back for surgery.  As you can see in the bottom left corner, Cowie of course went along for the ride.  Cowie is an ever faithful friend, who has been with Jonah through even more procedures that mummy & daddy as Cowie is given an "all access" pass.   

Post-op chair sitting.  The "jowl line" is over-exaggerated right now, but is expected to soften to a more "normal" line over the next few weeks.

When you're waiting to discharge, sometimes the only thing to do is take selfies.

Breaking free!

Julia and Jonah chilling with Auntie Leslie and Kyle - happy to be reunited and home.

Surgery clearly doesn't prevent Jonah from trying to eat donuts off of a string with no hands at a birthday party. (Ok, so maybe I was using my hands to help, but who's counting?)

Happy to be back at therapy building a crazy potato head man.

I am sorry for the delay in updating you on Jonah's post-operative success.  His facial reanimation surgery went off without a hitch and was everything we prayed for.  Jonah managed to avoid the PICU and come out of surgery extubated as things went so smoothly.  After 2 days of minimal pain support, Jonah was off pain meds completely and spending more time out of bed than in bed.  After 4 nights in the hospital, Jonah was sprung and back at home.  If not for some mild swelling and bruising, you would have never known that Jonah even had surgery - he jumped right back into life.  We expect it will be 4-6 months before we will start to see the full results of surgery, but in the meantime we already notice differences.

Many cancer parents will talk about how their children are their heroes.  Until now, I've been quiet about the ways that Jonah inspires me - about the ways that he is my hero, but after this surgery I just can't stay quiet. Jonah has been through so much - endless tests, pokes, medicines, side effects, surgeries, nights in the hospital, therapy and on and on.  Despite all of that, when presented with more hospital time,  Jonah was unfazed - his happy-go-lucky goofy self shining through.  The strength in his resilience and the depth of his fight are mind-blowing.  Whatever the challenge is, he will rise above it and not look back.  He doesn't worry about problems of the future or mourn problems of the past -  he focuses on how to make today fun.  He sets goals for himself and then works toward them with all of his might.  So many lessons to learn from watching my little guy just being himself.

We thank God for all of his provisions along the way for this journey and the mighty strength that he bestowed upon a little boy.

In the meantime, Jonah is delighted that post-operatively he is now able to blow raspberries, so if you see him feel free to ask him to show you.  We're well past manners at this point and are perfectly happy to let him relish his new skill.