In the Lords Hands

30 minutes ago we got our first ring on the pager which signaled that the pre-surgery anesthesia was finished and the surgeon was ready to make the first incision. Just in case they had more information for us I ran over to the desk to see what they could tell us. I was expecting to garner very little additional information so I was very surprised to see that the surgeon was waiting for us in person. We sat down and he proceeded to explain that during the pre-operation examination they noticed that his left lower pulmonary vein looked small and prompted them to re-examine all the MRI, Cath, and echo images they had available to get a better picture. They decided that the vein was abnormal(not a surprise since the first surgery already fixed a few abnormal pulmonary veins) in that it was very narrow and seemed to be pinched between the heart, spine and aorta.
The purpose of Ethan's surgery is to address his pulmonary hypertension and in the surgeon's opinion this would be more beneficial than fixing aorta. It will add 1 additional hour and increased risks but the potential for this to help Ethan makes it worth it. The surgeon seemed optimistic about the process and we gave permission for them to perform it.
During a priesthood blessing we gave to Ethan we explicitly asked for the doctors to be blessed with the knowledge of how to best help Ethan. After talking with the surgeon we know this is exactly what happened. Looking at old images we know that this vein has always been small, but no one has ever identified it as a potential issue until today. Previous catheterizations have examined his pulmonary veins but even in these studies this wasn't diagnosed. It wasn't until the day of his 3rd surgery that the medical team noticed and took the time to examine and understand what was before them and then come up with a plan to address it. We are so grateful for the amazing doctors and nurses here and for the work they perform on Ethan. We are blessed to have a loving Father in Heaven who looks out for each and every one of us and who is guiding us every step of the way.