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Later, a third surgery called a Fontan procedure would be needed when Sawyer was a toddler. The Fontan would connect her inferior vena cava, which was a big vein that brought the blood from her lower body to her heart, to her pulmonary arteries. Hopefully, at that point, Sawyer would do well and have normal oxygenation of her blood.
Ryder spoke to his nurse practitioner, telling her what he needed so she could handle getting the procedure scheduled. When he finished, he turned back to where McKenzie had told the nurse to gather what she’d need to ventilate the baby.
“I’ll make sure Sawyer’s Norwood procedure is done prior to our leaving for Nashville. I’ll plan to do the surgery but will consult with Dr. Rhea—” another pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital “—as he’ll be covering my patients while I’m out of town.”
“Thank you.” She wasn’t sure if she meant his taking on Sawyer’s case and making sure the baby’s surgery happened as soon as possible or if she was thanking him for being willing to shuffle his schedule to go with her to Nashville.
She appreciated both.
“It’s my job,” he reminded her, seeming almost embarrassed at her gratitude.
It was more than a job. For both of them.
That was one thing they had in common and she could always use as a go-to if they ran out of things to talk about on their trip. They both loved their job, doing what they could to repair tiny hearts, and save lives.
She hoped silence didn’t abound because she didn’t want to bore Ryder out of his mind.
“Do you want me to go with you to talk to this little one’s parents?”
McKenzie’s heart squeezed at the thought of what she’d soon be doing. Talking to new parents, explaining what was going on with their precious baby had always been McKenzie’s least favorite part of her job.
“Thanks, but I’ll tell them what’s going on.” She wouldn’t pass that off on Ryder. She was Sawyer’s pediatric cardiologist and needed to meet her mom and dad as they’d be seeing each other many times in the years to come. No doubt Ryder would meet with them soon enough to discuss specifics of the surgery. “Mom was who first picked up on something not being right, so she knows something’s up. I’ll spend some time explaining the diagnosis and what to expect. You can meet with them later when they’ve had a bit of time for the reality of what Sawyer faces to sink in.”
Because the diagnosis, the stark reality of just how serious the diagnosis was, would put the child’s parents into shock—they’d need a little time before they’d be able to process what was happening. It wasn’t easy to go from thinking you had a healthy newborn to discovering that without major intervention she’d be dead within a few days.
His gaze met hers. “Do you want to assist?”
Be a part of his team to rebuild Sawyer’s aorta? Was that a trick question?
“Absolutely.”
“Awesome.” His eyes sparkled, conveying he was glad she’d said yes to going into surgery with him.
McKenzie’s insides tingled at the way he was looking at her, at the fact he’d just asked her to be a part of his team.
Over the past year, she’d been a part of a few teams he led. Each time, she’d been impressed with his focus and skills as he intricately worked to repair whatever anomaly ailed their tiny patient.
He was such a talented surgeon and always seemed to go above and beyond in the care he provided.
She’d been so excited when he’d first come to work for Seattle Cardiac Clinic for Kids, had hoped to frequently go into surgery with him because of his involvement with several innovative techniques, including his research position. She’d thought about applying for a position on his research team, even.
Those first few weeks, she had been lucky enough to assist with a handful. And what seemed to be only another handful since that time.
Because he’d become almost inaccessible to her, and Dr. Rhea tended to see the majority of her patients.
Maybe she had done something to upset Ryder, she thought for the thousandth time. Whatever, he must have moved past it when she’d asked him to go with her to Nashville. She still couldn’t imagine what she’d done, but obviously she had done something as he’d actively avoided her.
Whatever, he wasn’t avoiding her anymore and had asked her to assist on Sawyer’s Norwood procedure. Plus, he was smilin
g at her as he hit a button on his phone, making another call to set the wheels into motion to get Sawyer to surgery and to have McKenzie in the operating room with him, along with all the others who would be a part of Sawyer’s heart surgery.
Going to surgery with him shouldn’t make her so excited, but she’d be lying if she didn’t admit that it did. She never wanted any child to be born with defects, but she loved every opportunity to help those who had been.
McKenzie brushed her fingertip gently over the baby’s chest and said a quick prayer that everything would go smoothly during this first surgery, and the many more Sawyer would face during her lifetime. Two within her first six months.
It was highly possible that down the road, in addition to all her initial surgeries, that if a heart could be found, Sawyer would need a heart transplant.
If Sawyer survived her first year of life, her odds were good. Unfortunately, the number of babies who didn’t survive was still too high.
