We have a date!

After almost 4 years of wondering when will Colin get his trach out the date has finally been set. March 31 Colin will have his Single Stage LTP done by Dr. Robin Cotton. Dan, Colin and I will be in Cincinnati for 3 -6 weeks as Colin recovers. This procedure is extremely complex. They will be taking cartledge from Colin's ribs to create an anterior and posterior graft for his airway. Once these grafts are placed Colin will then be intubated with the E.T. tube acting as a stent to hold open the airway as it heals. He will most likely be on the vent and in a drug induced coma for 7-10 days. Then they will take him back into the operation room to do a Bronchoscopy to see how the grafts are healing. If everything looks good they will then take him back to the PICU to start weaning him off the drugs and to get him breathing on his own. Once he is awake and breathing on his own we will then be moved to the airway floor. Colin could spend 7-14 days there. While he is on the airway floor Colin will be dealing with drug withdrawl, learning how to breath through is mouth and nose, learning how to eat and speak all over again. Once he has mastered this to where Dr. Cotton feels comfortable we will be released to go to a hotel. We will probably be there for another week until we have another Bronchoscopy to see if we are clear to travel back to Texas.
All of this is going to be a long process that will take a lot of patience and prayer. There is no guarantee that this will work. The best we can all do it hope and pray it will work and understand if it doesn't that we are still moving in the right direction.
For both Dan and I this is an extremely emotional period. We are leaving our daughters for an extended period of time. Yes, in very capable loving hands of their Grandmother, Pap, Amy, Uncle Chris and Amanda.(Thank you very much I do not know how we would get through this with out you) Then we are dealing with seeing our little boy go through this. The thought of him being attached to all those machines, tubes and wires are bringing back all those memories of the NICU again. We know it is a short period of time and it will all be worth it. Colin is a fighter, he always has been and always will be.
Thank you to our family, friends, teachers, and principals for offering to help with the girls while we are in Cincinnati. We are so great full that Grace and Emma have each and everyone of you.