From: Kraig Warnemuende <ad6075@wayne.edu>

Date: Mon Mar 10, 2003 6:33:03 PM America/Detroit

To: Kraig Warnemuende <ad6075@wayne.edu>

Subject: 03/10/03 Update from Kraig, Loren and Keren

Dear friends,

Well, here's the scoop! We finally heard back from Keren's doctors and unfortunately they can't coordinate both the jaw distraction and the g-tube for the same day. The reasoning given is that they don't want Keren under anesthesia for that long, which is a reason we can accept, so long as it doesn't mean another surgery in the near future won't also compromise her. We suspect, too, that part of the prob is just willingness on the doctors' part to try to coordinate.... Ah well.... Hard to know exactly what God's purpose is in this--perhaps spreading things out is what's best for Keren. So, we go in for the jaw distraction tomorrow at noon. We'll have to do that one first, because of the doctor's time frame, and right now we don't know when the other surgery will be as that doctor is out of town till next Monday. He had talked about doing it the 19th or 20th of this month, but his office tells us he's actually already overbooked on those two days. So we shall see! It's amazing how crazy things are in this day and age. We have so much technology and ability to do amazing things so kids like Keren can thrive, but at the same time we're totally overwhelmed with the number of people who need things done. There are only so many doctors!

Anyway, Keren will be at the hospital for five days (we're praying that's it). The doctor wants to keep right on top of things and make sure Keren's progressing well before we can take her home. She'll be in the ICU for at least the first night--once she's transferred to a room one of us can stay with her. It's a little scary, so I'm trying not to dwell on it that much. Keren's been doing so well developmentally, and we're afraid what kind of set-backs this surgery will bring for her. On the other hand, it's more and more difficult feeding her, and I'm glad we're finally taking the steps to help her in that respect. There is always the possibility that the jaw distraction will help her on the eating end of things until we can get the g-tube--the "normal" kids who have this surgery often pick-up on eating right away because they can breathe more easily. However, Keren's eating probs aren't just with her breathing; they're definitely related to desire as well.... I'm sure while we're in the hospital some alternate method of feeding her will be found until we can get the g-tube.

We'll keep you posted on all the news. Thanks for being there for all of!

Much love,

Loren for Kraig and Keren, too!