Heart Warriors

12:08pm

Kathleen Rauch15 Comments

12:08pm – That’s the exact hour and minute when Charlotte began to breathe on her own today.

So many of you are caught up in Charlotte’s story that I simply cannot turn in for the night without updating on her progress.

The PCICU team has tried many, many times to extubate Charlotte. She was born on November 30 and, since her birth, she has breathed on her own for 23 hours. Total. The team has worked hard over the last couple of weeks to prepare for extubation. Protocols were put in place to give Charlotte the best possible chance at a successful procedure. Today was the big day.

I’ve been anxiously waiting to hear from Maggie. We texted briefly this morning. I knew then that as soon as morning rounds were completed, the team would gather and begin the extubation.

But I heard nothing all afternoon. I kept looking at a picture that Greta had sent me. She had lit a candle at the Grotto at Notre Dame. The place where my parents were engaged and where I prayed for countless tests and seemingly significant life problems. Greta walked there last night and lit a candle for Charlotte.

I waited and prayed, like so many of you who follow this blog. But I didn’t feel I should follow-up. I know from experience that these things are slow to develop.

As you wait.

And watch.

And hope.

And pray.

Finally, this evening the text came.

And then, I received photographic proof of the big event.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate this picture. And that head of hair.

And I thought Becky had great hair. Well, Charlotte’s hair is epic. Like, if they gave out medals for best in show, Charlotte would win. A gold medal. A perfect 10.

Maggie told me that Charlotte is doing well and holding her own. It has been a long day but Charlotte’s heart is holding on far better than at any time before. Dr. Kristen is a super hero. She is the head of the Heart Fabulous team and a tireless cheerleader for her small patients. Charlotte’s right lung has collapsed a little and Dr. Kristen is pulling out all of her tricks to keep it inflated. How awesome that she is staying the night to keep an eye on Charlotte.

Maggie also shared her favorite photo from the day. A moment 138 days in the making.

138 days of wanting to wrap your arms around your little baby. Waiting for the removal of tubes and lines and machines. I cannot even imagine the longing.

The next 12 hours are crucial as Charlotte adapts to breathing on her own. So while most of us sleep, Dr. Kristen and her team will work throughout the night to support Charlotte. Maggie and Tim will keep a cribside vigil, never wandering far from the child they can finally hold.

Counting breaths they have been waiting to hear.

15 thoughts on “12:08pm”

  3. Oof. I think that you need to start rating your blog but some sort of system. Trigger warning- might cause you to cry your face off. Be sure you are in safe space before you move forward. (not in front of your French freshman class that you are proctoring for example)

    Maybe like a percentage of likely tears or number of kleenex necessary to make it through. “This blog is rated 5/5 kleenex” or something like that

    I love that you have room in your heart to celebrate Charlotte’s journey.

    You are a blessing. Susan

    On Fri, Apr 16, 2021 at 10:45 PM The Refillable Glass wrote:

    > Kathleen Rauch posted: ” 12:08pm – That’s the exact hour and minute when > Charlotte began to breathe on her own today. So many of you are caught up > in Charlotte’s story that I simply cannot turn in for the night without > updating on her progress. The PCICU team has t” >

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  8. God bless Charlotte and her parents. I pray she continues to do well breathing on her own. What a wonderful moment to be able to hold your sweet baby for the first time. ❤️

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  11. God IS Good!! As I have followed Charlotte’s journey through Kathleen’s blog it has amazed how big Kathleen’s heart is. For a year the Rauch family: mom, dad, grandma & grandpa, brothers, sisters, aunts & uncles and community have followed from the initial “How Can I?” through “how does this work” to “all those tubes & wires” and the “Thank You God” praises. What an amazing outpouring of love and support from the Rauch family for Tim, Maggie & Baby Charlotte.

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