One down....one to go

Melissa's first procedure, the carotid artery bypass, was completed successfully today. The purpose of today's work was to re-route the blood flow from her aorta to her brain. This is necessary for the placement of the stent on Monday.

The surgeon was also able to restore blood flow to her left subclavian artery. This had been occluded since her open heart surgery in 2023.

Melissa will be intubated and on a ventilator until after the second procedure on Monday. This was a surprise to us when the anesthesia team told us this morning. But the reasoning is good - the repeated trauma of putting in and taking out the breathing tube could cause problems. For now, Melissa is sedated but able to communicate, especially via sign language finger spelling. And I am mostly able to interpret for her 🙂.

We're grateful for the thoughts and prayers so far! As we wait for Monday, please continue to pray:

• Gratitude for the vascular surgeon and all those caring for Melissa

• That Melissa will be comfortable on the ventilator and that sedation can be gradually weaned

• Preparation for the surgeon and his team goes well

• The procedure on Monday is successful

• Once the procedure is done Monday, that Melissa will be able to quickly get off the ventilator and start the recovery process.