The First Surgery

On June 25, 2008 Colt had his first surgery. Missy and Bradley Went the night before so they could feed him his last feeding before surgery, then returned later a 4:30 a.m to stay with him. Before surgery one of our pastors Issac Whitt came and they prayed over Colt, then the anesthesiologist came in and ask if it would be alright to pray over him and Missy said that would be wonderful. I think that, that was completely wonderful for him to do that.

They took Colt back to the O.R. around 7:15 a.m to begin the surgery. We all sat in the waiting room patiently waiting for an update and praying. Then Dr. Plunketts nurse came in and talked to Missy and Bradley. She had good news, all was going well and Colt was doing very good so far in surgery. We were all very happy to hear the good news of how well he was doing. She told us that she would call back later with another update.

Patiently waiting and praying through the day the phone in the waiting room rang. My Dad picked it up and they asked for the Hardy family. He handed the phone to Missy and we recived our second update. All went well, they warmed Colt's body tempeture back up and were taking him off of the bypass machine. praises to God were sent up after hearing how well all went. Colt is such a strong child and his parents are so very strong as well.

After surgery, they were rolling him back to the PIC unit and Missy and Bradley got to see their strong hansome boy. While they were getting Colt situated in his new room, Dr. Plunkett and his nurse came in to talk to Missy and Bradley. Dr. Plunkett was very satisfied with getting to preform the surgery he planned on. All went great during the operation and Colt did excellent during all of the surgery. We were all greatly appreicated for all they had done and Missy and Bradley were so greatful for having been blessed so much and soon getting to see their son.
After Dr. Plunkett left the anesthesiologist came in with more good reports on how well he did. We all knew that little Colt was a strong, tough little boy.

And so many thanks For all the prayers and thoughts for Colt and his family. We ask for you all to continuely pray and keep little Colt in your thoughts.

Through Gods love and the power of prayer we will be bringing Colt home.

Surgery info & Prayer Request

I am finally getting to update the blog. So much thanks to Lindsey for keeping everyone updated and replying to emails. She did an excellent job.

Mommy thought she was going to die during labor pretty funny. If it was not for Bradley coaching me through it I would not have made it. We had some wonderful nurses and doctors. One nurse in particular I would like to say a special thanks to is Allie Gallio.

Allie was my nurse all day during labor and was supposed to work 7 am – 7 pm, but she stayed until Colt was brought into this world and helped Bradley coach me through it. Not sure what I what I would have done with her help. She was wonderful. She is moving to Florida in a few days. UK is losing one of the best nurses I have ever met. Thanks again to, Allie!

Colt is definitely worth all of it, after it was all over and I saw his face I forgot all about the pain. I thought I prepared myself, but there aren't words to describe the emotions Bradley and I have been going through. The whole birthing and becoming a parent experience has brought up closer than I ever thought a husband and wife could be.

Bradley and I are staying in a room in the St. Agnes house which is only 3 blocks from the hospital, we went home Thursday night after I was discharged from the hospital. Bradley and I cried all night, it killed us to leave him. It just did not feel like home without our boy..

It is so hard for Bradley and I to put into words how this sweet little boy has changed our lives other than he is the absolute best thing we have ever done. Every time we have gotten to see him it has been an absolute blessing. They have let us change and feed him several times. Bradley is much better at both than I am. He is so wonderful with Colt, you see the love in Bradley eyes every time he looks at Colt and my heart just melts.

Surgery is scheduled for (Wednesday) 6/25/08 tomorrow morning @ 7:15 am. We ask that everyone please pray for Colt and lift him up. Pray for the all the doctors and nurses operating on Colt. I am faithful in my beliefs that God is carrying our little boy in his arms and he will not let him go, he is giving us strength to be strong for Colt.

Thanks for all thoughts and prayers and ask that everyone please continue.

~ Love
Miss

Colt Samuel - 3 Days Old

The doctors have decided to wait until Wednesday to do the surgery. They want to make sure that Colt's levels are alright and that everything is okay before they do the surgery. But he is doing very good. Missy was discharged from the hospital last night, her and Bradley went to see their new Son in the NIC Unit before going home for some rest. Today they returned to be with him and will be staying in a hotel close to the hospital. Its truly amazing how strong they are. Missy, Bradley, and baby Colt. Its also amazing how far they have came along in technology and medicine. just about a month and half ago a little girl was born at UK with HLHS. She had the same doctors and the same surgeon as Colt will have. She had her first surgery about a week in an half after she was born and got dismissed from the hospital yesterday to go home. That's completely wonderful and it gives so much more comfort. God has been so good to us, after we found about Colts heart, Missy and Bradley were either going to have to go to the University of Michigan or the University of Cincinnati, but then UK received Doctor Mark Plunkett, who preforms the surgerys Colt needs for his heart. Truly that's was a major blessing! Then Colt had no other complications. Now he has been welcomed into this world and is doing good. With God nothing is impossible and he will never let go. Through our times of need he carries us and he is one to never drop or let any of his children down. We all thing God everyday for the amazing blessings he has blessed us with. Our greatest blessing is having Colt welcomed into our family! God Bless!

Baby Colt Samuel Hardy

Here are more Pictures of the new precious baby boy!

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He was taken to the infant icu Last night and is doing good. They will do the surgery on either friday or monday depending on how is does. We aprericate all your prayers and the prayers to come. Thank you all again. God Bless!

Colt Samuel Hardy 06-17-08 8lbs. 6oz.

Today at 9:26p.m Colt Samuel Hardy Was welcomed into the world. with a big cry heard through the doors we all let a sigh of relief, when the nurse gave us a thumbs up to a new baby in our family. After all day in labor he finally decided to come. The best present papaw could have on his birthday was to get to see his new grandson. Missy did an amazing job, she is such a trooper. and bradley was amazing in holding her hand through it all. It really paid off when they got to see our new precious and beautiful addition. God has greatly blessed this family and we are so thankful to have little Colt Samuel in our lives.He weighed 8lbs. 6oz. a perfect little big bundle of amazing joy. Missy and Bradley were exghausted but getting to meet their new son was the best of all. Seeing this wonderful child of God made it well worth the wait. We all truly appericated all your prayers through all this and appericate the prayers to come. I know that God has held their hand through all of this and will continue and not let go. Even though Colt is my nephew i have to say he is the most beautiful little boy ever. And he is spoiled already :]. He is a trooper and very strong just like his amazing parents. (Ill keep updating on whats going on.) God Bless!

38 ½ Weeks

We went to the doctor High Risk OB/GYN yesterday and to Dr. Cottrill our pediatric cardiologist today

OB update
1 cm dilated and 50 % effaced and Colt is measuring at 7 pounds and 12 ounces. Dr. Hansen wanted to induce me Wednesday or Thursday of this week and I starting freaking out, I said I am not ready yet. How crazy is that I really wanted to go in labor on my own but it may not happen so, we compromised and agreed that if I do not go into labor on my own by next Monday 6/16, then I will go into the hospital Tuesday morning 6/17 to be induced which is my dad’s birthday – he is so thrilled and does not mind sharing his birthday with his grandson a bit. So unless Colt decides to come on his own, we are going to meet our son next Tuesday.

Cardiologist update
We got good news today, if all goes well after he is born we will get to feed him breast milk through a bottle after they take him to the NICU and he is given the prostaglandin drug and he is stable. Our pediatric cardiologist said the baby girl that was born 2 weeks ago with the same heart defect is doing much better feeding and after surgery since feeding through a bottle and not an IV or feeding tube after she was born, she said some reason babies will forget how to feed and swallow if they are not taught right after birth. When Dr. Cottrill had told us about this little girl at our last visit I had prayed that she would be strong and come through surgery successfully and she did. The little girl is doing remarkably well post-op, that has really raised my hope and lifted my faith.
God is an amazing god.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."Psalm 147:3

I will update if there is anymore news before Tuesday :o)