Update from Papa Cooley...

Hello All,

Time for Papa to get off an update about Kristin. - She has been a very brave girl today. She began her morning in the OR waiting room where the nurse tried to get an IV going. He tried both hands and couldn't get a vein w/o either running into a valve or having the vein disappear on him. He finally ended up giving her some happy juice my mouth (ugly tasting) and the anesthesiologist got one going in the OR.

She was wheeled away at 7:45 AM and at 11:15 we got the call that she was in recovery and that we could go to see her. We no sooner got to the recovery room when she was moved up to her room.

The Dr. said that the surgery went very smoothly and quicker than she thought it would. (Praise The Lord!) The break was clean and the Dr. that oversaw the nerves as the bone was being broken and the screws were being put in said that there was no significant nerve damage.

She has three screws in the upper part of the femur and two in the lower part and a rod keeping the two sections of the bone from coming together. Everything is held together with a cage type framework and the physical therapist said that beginning tomorrow Kristin will be able to actually walk on it a bit. (she can put as much weight on it as she can tolerate.)

For those who were aware of her leg being a bit crooked as well as shorter than the left one; the Dr. said that only the right side of the growth plate at the bottom of the femur was broken. the left side actually continued to grow, forcing the bone to curve to the outside rather than grow straight. The first couple of weeks will involve straightening the lower end of the femur as well as the lengthening of the entire bone. (The frame is structured to do the straightening. - Our Almighty God has truly given doctors great wisdom and knowledge. Of course, we know that HE is the One who does the healing. The doctors and medicine are the facilitators!

It is now about 5:15 PM and she is beginning to be a bit more alert. The entire staff here at the hospital have been some of the finest! An hour ago a lady came by with a "goody" bag containing a build-a-bear, a game, some perfume, and various other notions and sundries. K is looking them all over as I write. :-)

Carla has done very well throughout the entire ordeal. God has held her in His hand too. (and Grandma:-))

Actually, we have only just begun as the lengthening process will take two months. There will be periods of intense pain but our God knows all about it and we trust Him to get everyone through it.

Thank you for all your prayers and emails. Be sure to keep up with this blog and we will keep you abreast of what is going on.
Good evening and God Bless,
Bill (tonight) for the Hazels and Cooley's