Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 119 - Plans for April

Melody's appointment mid-March with Dr. Lin went precisely as Greg and Susan hoped it would.

"Forty-one pounds," Dr. Lin said when she read Melody's chart after they weighed her. "That is excellent news."

"Yes, it is," Susan agreed.

Greg grinned. "Does that mean she weighs enough for the procedure?"

"Yes," Dr. Lin told him. "And that is the first requirement."

"Are there others?" Susan asked.

"She has to be stable on her medicine, which at the moment she is, and she has to be healthy. As of right now, she is healthy too. I see no reason we can't schedule her surgery, but you should know, there is a lead time of four to six weeks to reserve the surgical suite we will need at Children's Hospital," Dr. Lin said.

Susan did some rapid calculations in her head. "So ... we're looking at the end of April?"

"Given today is March 17th, that is probably the earliest we can do it," Dr. Lin said. "I'll have my nurse contact the hospital to get you an exact date."

"What do we do between now and then?" Susan asked.

"Exactly what you've been doing. Continue to do your best to keep Melody healthy, and we'll have a check-in visit in three weeks, half way between today and her surgery date," Dr. Lin said. "We'll need to repeat her labs then, just to make sure she's still strong enough for the procedure. We'll do that again a few days before she is admitted along with a full cardiac work up. We can discuss that in more detail at her next visit."

"Very good, Doctor," Greg said seriously. "Is there anything more specific you would like us to do?"

"Keep me informed of any change in her overall health. I want to know about any colds, sniffles, allergies, or asthma attacks. This is spring. This is the time of year known for triggering some of that. Aside from that, try to relax," Dr. Lin said.

"We will," Susan promised.

Dr. Lin smiled as they came to the end of their visit. "I'll see you in April."

"We will be here," Greg assured the doctor and she went out.

"I'll wait by the receptionist to make our appointment while you get Melody dressed,"

Greg told Susan.

"We won't be long," Susan promised.

By the time they left, they had an appointment card in their hands and the promise of a phone call concerning the date for Melody's surgery.

c

Matt and Ashley made it a point to join Greg, Susan and the family for dinner that evening.

"What did the doctor say?" Matt asked after the blessing, while they were all in the process of sitting down.

"Melody now weighs enough to have the surgery," Greg said. "Since her procedure is not considered an emergency, it will have to be scheduled as an elective procedure. Lead time for the surgical suite they need to do it is about five to six weeks out. We are expecting a call within the next day or two with a date."

Matt grinned. "Finally! It would be good to get this over with so Melody can get on with living her life like a normal kid."

"You think it is good Melody has to have an operation?" Jessie asked.

"I think it would be good for her to get her heart fixed so she doesn't have so many problems all the time," Matt told her.

"Will the surgery fix all her problems?" Ashley asked doubtfully.