Getting ready for the procedure, finding a place in Baltimore—and finding a place for Lincoln

Jim Walsh
Jim Walsh
Jul 28, 2017 · 3 min read

Adrienne and I are nervous yet excited about getting started with the FETO procedure next week. We check in to the hospital Aug. 1 for the procedure Aug. 2 (date got bumped a day).

This video from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the other hospitals participating in the trial, explains in more detail what is involved.

We’re required to stay within 30 driving minutes of Johns Hopkins for six to seven weeks while the balloon is inserted within Baby Girl’s trachea. We are feeling confident about the patchwork of accommodations that we have lined up following the last few weeks of apartment hunting.

After looking through Craigslist, considering many helpful referrals from friends and colleagues who have Baltimore networks, pursuingtemporaryfurnishedapartments.com, and poking around on Johns Hopkins Off Campus Housing, we determined the best possible option for us will be one of two family homes near the hospital:

Ronald McDonald House of Baltimore
Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House

Both are great options because they can accommodate up to six family members — kind of like big hotel rooms. And we are happy (and blessed) that Adrienne’s mom, dad, brother, sister, and her best friend Kaylin are coming to stay with us over overlapping weeks while we are in Baltimore. We are on the waiting list for both houses and staying in an Airbnb with the Minjarez family for the first week, which will be very nice.

Ronald McDonald house also has amazing partnerships with hotels near the hospital, offering heavily discounted rates for families as they wait to be admitted to Ronald McDonald House.

So we’re feeling good about that.

How’s Adrienne doing?

Adrienne is a model of grace and courage and strength.

She is making arrangements at work for her looming out of office, doing everything she can to make sure that Boys Town D.C. stays on track to meet its development goals. Today she toured a potential event space for the big fundraiser her site does every spring. Her boss and coworkers took her out to lunch, and she had a really nice time.

She is getting bigger as the baby grows and has some tired days, but she never complains. She is 100 percent committed to Baby Girl. We started reading to Baby Girl this week and have found a lot of happiness in that because we can feel her kick when we talk to her.

Adrienne has been having a craving for strawberries lately. She’s excited for her mom to get here soon. Basically, she is an inspiration.

What about Lincoln?

Many family, friends and colleagues have asked about Lincoln, our dog, and offered to watch him while we are away. We have been so touched by that because it has been something that has been a worry for us as we’ve been preparing for everything else.

Adrienne found an amazing charity called PACT for Animals that helps hospital patients and military personnel by placing their pets in temporary foster homes until their owners can be reunited with them. He was in the system for 5 days before a woman with a huge, huge heart reached out and offered to take him in.

We spoke with the foster mom yesterday for almost an hour and we are so happy that he will be with someone so caring and thoughtful and kind until we are ready to bring him and Baby Girl home. We are dropping him off with his temporary foster mom on Saturday. It’s probably going to be really hard for us both, but we know he will be in a good home and we’ll see him soon.

Thank you for all of your support and kind words and prayers as we get started on this journey. We’re feeling positive about what lies ahead.

Our Journey With CDH

Our baby girl was born Oct. 24, 2017. She was diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia June 14, 2017. We are using this space to chronicle our experiences.

Jim Walsh

Written by

Jim Walsh

Dad

Our Journey With CDH

Our baby girl was born Oct. 24, 2017. She was diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia June 14, 2017. We are using this space to chronicle our experiences.

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