Ditching the stridor (hopefully)

So today is the day! They have moved the surgery to today. Hopefully last night was his final night as our little wheezie. In true Thomas fashion, he had a spectacular night. He was actually silent and breathing quite well...nothing like a little second guessing to make a surgery day start out right! They are doing an anterior/posterior cricoid split. Basically they are cutting the cartilage ring in his throat (the cricoid) in the front and the back then placing a breathing tube in to splint the ring and let it heal around the tube with a larger diameter to increase the size of his airway. As far as procedures go, it's relatively simple, they don't make any outward incisions, it's all done arthroscopically. The difficult part for this will be the recovery. He will need to remain intubated (with breathing tube in) for probably two weeks. During this time he will be heavily sedated, not really what you wish for your 7 month old. After the intubation is over, he will probably remain in the hospital for another week and a half recovering and being monitored. When it is all said and done, breathing should come much easier to him and his energy can go towards a more fruitful endeavor, like laughing or smiling. It's been a strange roller coaster of emotions to get here. We want the surgery, but don't. We, of course, want him to breath without difficulty, but don't like to wish a surgery on him, especially one with so much anesthesia. When they called yesterday to tell us that they were adding him on for today my heart leapt, both from happiness and trepidation. I haven't been able to separate the two ever since. It is an exciting time and a nerve wracking preparation. There is no experience that I have to compare these swirled up emotions with. To literally be excited and scared and anxious and hopeful and antsy and hesitant, is quite surreal. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee this will work and he may still need further intervention, but it's worth a shot. Will post here as often as I can to update on his progress.