Day 1 Post Surgery

Hi all.
Just an update on our champion. It's been pretty full on at the ICU.....that’s nights sleep for all of us didn’t really happen to honest BUT I am so happy to report that they just removed her ventilation tube successfully and she is now on Vpap only.
In four hours time she will be allowed to have a drink or an ice block and we might switch her just to oxygen which she would be more comfortable with.
Keep up the prayers please because they are working.
We are so relived to see that Ventilation tube out, and for Ash to have her voice back. There was a lot of guess work overnight, trying to figure out what she needed. It was like a workout, drawing pictures and doing what felt like charades all night! Ger n I tag-teamed it and we both got a few hours sleep.
At least now she her voice back, she can complain (not that she does), and ask for what she needs- phew.
Please God she’ll be talking her head off in another few days xxx

Afternoon Update:
Ok so they have decided to be a little bit more Conservative and keep the Vpap mask on for another 24 hours. Even though she doesn't like it, at least she can still talk, and we also think this is a good approach to make sure she doesn't go backwards. Slow n steady wins the race! Overall she is recovering nicely for someone with respiratory issues so we are all very pleased. She is just amazing.
The New Zealand surgeon just came in to see us and told us that he thought the surgery was amazing and that she will be the first of many to have this surgery in New Zealand. He thinks it was totally the right choice for Ash. He also told us that the Australian surgeon who did it with him, left last night and he did not get paid any money to do it. Gosh it makes us feel So grateful. We have asked for his contact details so that we can get in touch with him to thank him. They will show us X-ray pictures over the next couple of days so that we can see how straight they got her. It turns out that some of her spine was autofused so it was difficult but her back will straighten more with the rods as she grows.
Will be in touch again tomorrow XXX