Surgery... again

Lincoln is loving his crib and all his big boy toys!! He really gets interested in watching them move around and change colors.. He had a new eye exam yesterday that showed no progression of the ROP eye disease so he now will only get the exams every other week! That is great news!! Now for the bad news.... the new study on his intestines finally shows a 'stricture' and fistulas in his small intestine. The only way to fix it is to perform another surgery to remove that area of his intestines and sew him back together. The dr. that told us this also explained that unfortunately it is highly likely that another stricture and more fistulas will form as a result of the new surgery and we will be on a "vicious cycle". She also said as he is now he will be dependent on tpn iv feedings for a long time and possibly his entire life due to the large amount of small intestine he lost the first time. The iv feeds will be in addition to the stomach g-tube feedings he will also have to have. There is a slight chance that at some point in his life he may be able to supplement the iv and tube feeds with actual food... so that is what we are holding onto. While they are in the surgery they will go ahead and install the g-button in his stomach that will be used to tube feed him later. We are sooo frustrated and upset! We were told after the first surgery that he would be ok after they reconnected and be able to eat normally... slowly the truth has come out and we now know that is far from reality. We are on the schedule for surgery friday. That means he will also be placed back on the dreaded ventilator. We just pray he won't have to be on it long but we know this is an enormous setback for his breathing and everything else. But, it also will get us one step closer to getting him home someday..... we can deal with tube and iv feedings and we will work very very hard with him to get to the point of actual feedings someday. Because of the surgery Lincoln cannot have visitors beginning friday morning. Lincoln will overcome this new horrible challenge... he is very strong and very very loved by all.