First time meeting Santa Claus

I know what you are thinking "Why is he blue?" This is Santa Claus from the Houston Police Department. She LOVED it!! She did not cry, she was not scared, she even had a face of why is he leaving when he had to go. She is even currently in love with the movie "The Star" on Netflix which is about the night Jesus was born. We have a Christmas lover on our hands! She also prefers Christmas tissue paper over her pacifier some days.

She was 5 days post op from open heart surgery and looking amazing. Maybe 3rd times the charm and recovers faster. I'm kidding. She really needed this surgery and instantly as she was recovering I could see her color changed. She was pinker! She wasn't as pale or lacy skin when she gets cold. Her breathing and chest contractions looked so much better. She looked so relaxed; you could just tell that her body didn't have to work as hard to pump blood to her body or lungs. It is truly amazing!!

Surgery was very long! Maybe about 5 to 6 hours with taking her to the OR, prepping her, anesthesiology, and the actual surgery. ETERNAL! We did get a call every hour or so telling us she is stable and everything is going as expected, but still. They cant tell you how much longer or what they are doing at the moment. Eduardo, my parents, and I watched Finding Nemo 3 times until the surgery waiting room finally put on Aladdin. All in all Dr. Salazar did an amazing job just like her other surgeries. I really do hope that he does her last surgery and stays here. Honestly one of the best doctors I have met. Not many have the knowledge skill with social skills to calm parents to the point where they feel calm. I have met parents here that get worked up but as soon as he walks in, explains, and tells them it will all be ok they say "ok where do I sign". Its absolutely crazy, but a parent needs that when they have a child with CHD because they are truly in that sergeants hands. Best part is he is bilingual! I have other favorites here, he's just her sole sergeant that has operated her heart.

This recovery has been so fast that this time instead of rushing the doctors I feel the need to slow them down. Like they honestly had control over every aspect. One thing I have learned during this situation is that doctors can have so much knowledge and experience, but the patient is the one who actually directs them. Truth is there is a "typical" process for things based on medical studies, practice, and experience. For example if the patient is not ready to be off oxygen they aren't ready, if they need extra time on pain meds its not the end of the world, when they do get addicted to pain meds it is just a process, when they skip steps and suddenly have to take 3 steps back you just got to keep going, and lastly when they start becoming traumatized with every white coat/blue scrubs you just have to hold their hand and tell them it will all be ok. There also isn't an explanation why heart must go through this or a set schedule/process. Every child is different. The best one can do is meet other heart parent and talk about our experiences. Its the only way not to feel so alone in the experience. One also gets hope that their child isn't the only one and maybe one day they can be friends so they don't feel so alone with their symptoms.