Update #2 ...

I'm finally able to add another post ...

It has been a long day and I have lots of 'thoughts' running through my head -- let me try to give you an update on Sydney. According to her doctor, her surgery went very well. He started out with one size for the device, but then replaced it with a longer one (he did not anticipate the amount of flexibility in her spine). Basically her curvature went from 85 degrees to about 40 degrees. WOW! One piece of the device is actually attached to a rib in the thoracic (upper back) region, the other piece is attached down in her lumbar (low back) area. He thinks that she should bounce back from her surgery pretty quickly ... instead of an entire week in the hospital, she may only have to be in for a couple of days. He is helping out a fellow physician by doing some rounds tomorrow and should be able to see Sydney and give us an update.

We did have two "scares" with her anesthesia. First, when she was just brought up to PICU and "coming out" of the anesthesia ... she acted out of character (you know when it's not her 'normal' behavior). And again, when she pushed her morphine pump button, she acted out ... she was actually a little uncontrollable and tried to get out of bed. It was hard for us to experience. We both tried to calm her down and nothing, I mean nothing, was helping Sydney out. The nurse finally gave her some valium and she was able to settle down and go to sleep.

They tell us that Physical Therapy may be coming tomorrow to try and get Sydney up and walking. If all looks good, she may get moved to a "regular" room and won't have much longer before she gets to go home.

Sydney is a brave girl. She is so strong and has just been so positive through all of this. She is laughing and making jokes with all of us and the staff. She has such a strong spirit and an amazing "toughness" about her that we just have to sit back and admire.

Thank you for your continued thoughts & prayers!

Hoping for a speedy recovery,

-A4