EK takes Gillette

not razors.

Gillette Children's Hospital in St Paul.

We had an appointment there today with a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Van Heest.  That is all we were scheduled for.  We were coming up with a plan to help EK with her sweet little hands, feet and calf.

Backing up a bit, I should probably explain a little about Emma.  Emma Kate was born with some differences on her hands and feet, and one of her legs.  Her little calf looks a bit like someone wrapped a rubber band around it.  It is constricted and draws together as if bound.  Her sweet hands have darling fingers on them, and a few of her fingers are made uniquely.  And her feet both have toes that are in need of a little bit of touching up.  All of these things are caused by something that is referred to as either Amniotic Band Syndrome, Congenital Constriction Band Syndrome, or Streeters Syndrome.

All three of those names basically mean that EK was born with a congenital birth defect believed to be caused by entrapment of parts of the developing baby's body (usually limbs, fingers and toes) in fibrous amniotic bands.  These bands are very fine and thin, almost filament-like.  Why this happens is still unknown.  Often, but not always, a cleft lip or palate occurs along with amniotic banding.  Again, why these happen in concert is still a mystery as the bands do not cause the clefting of the palate or the lip.  There is much science still does not know.

A good site to explain ABS is this site. 

So, back to this morning.  We were there for one thing, and the Lord orchestrated a series of events that were so much more.  Honestly.  I should not be surprised by how this happens by now, but even after time and again seeing God show up in just amazing ways, I still am surprised!  Perhaps that is the "more than all you ask or imagine" piece of faith.  And I have to think it was God's little surprise party for us today.

So here EK and I were, along with Kevin our very kind interpreter who EK completely ignored (bless her heart), visiting with Dr. Van Heest.  She was marvelous.  Emma Kate was completely at ease putting a Mr. Potato head and son together.  As the doctor explained what she would do on each hand and foot, she started describing Emma's more affected hand, and tells me...are you ready for this?  Sit down if you aren't sitting down.  Not kidding.  I'm sitting.  It was a good thing I was then, too.  Her hand looks like it only has two more fully formed fingers (one a thumb). Between them is a tiny little finger.  Well, that tiny little finger is mighty!  Her little finger is actually TWO fingers.  There are two distinct knuckles and you can feel the two fingers in the one tiny little finger.  Emma Kate's sweet hand will have four complete digits when Dr. Van Heest is done operating!

Can.you.believe.it?

I was so calm about it, and when I started to tell Jim on the phone after the visit, I almost had to pull the car over I thought I would cry so hard for gladness for Emma.

As our time with Dr Van Heest drew to a close, she tells me next we will see another doctor who will perform the operation on Emma Kate's calf. Two minutes later, with no advanced appointment, in walks Dr. Wood who explains how he would release that band and perform the surgeries necessary to help Emma Kate's leg difference.  And then he goes on to give us another option we were totally unprepared for.  We have some decisions to make around timing and number of surgeries, and will do so in the next week.  It is a huge decision, and one we know God will help us make.

So you'd think we were done.  Um.  Not so much!  We had pictures taken, saw an orthodontist who outlined a care plan for her mouth (I got a mini exam just so EK would not be so scared.  Worked like a charm!), and there was something else in there that happened too that I can't remember now.  If we'd needed it, they would have given her a hearing test and scheduled ENT right then, too!  We already had a hearing test and know those results.

I felt like I was at my beloved Mayo Clinic.  To have that many people working together and fitting the patient in for optimal care and attention....it was truly an amazement to me.  I left quite stunned.  I could tell the lovely orthodontist knew I was very overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed in a good way.  It was such an incredible morning.

By the end, Kevin, our guide and I had developed a nice working relationship.  EK would ignore him outwardly, but still listen.  His help in explaining what was happening put her at ease and I reassured him that while it might not feel that he was doing too much (I think it was a bit awkward for him) his presence made for a peaceful little girl and I was very grateful.  He was so curious about our adoption and asked many questions about if we knew about her health concerns before we adopted her.  I was able to witness to him, and it was a beautiful conversation.  I know we seem so different to him.  Different in a good way.  He was so gracious, and it was also really neat to learn about his life.  He is a kind man.

Throughout all of this,  Emma Kate is just so sweet and dear.  She charmed, in a very authentic way, each person she met.  It wasn't a show, which would have been a sign of anxiety to me.  It was just dear Emma Kate being her adorable self.

Blessed.  We are so blessed by this daughter we didn't know we needed.  We are the "lucky" ones.  She is God's sweet gift to our family.  I pray that for her, we are the same.  I can't even imagine if we'd said no.  No out of fear, worry, genuinely hard circumstances.  It would have been a very understandable no in the "natural".  And we would have missed out on the best.  A best that takes me to my knees in gratitude to my God who gave us a courage that came straight from Him and set our hearts firmly in a peace that completely passed understanding.

To Him be the glory.
Soli deo gloria.