Friday February 20th Surgery II

Hello and thank you to everyone out there. Today was eventful. Mom and I got up and to the hospital for the 6:00 a.m. visit. I have told Clay, who is always on his way to Mom and Dad's bed early each morning, that it is our turn to come to his bed early each day. When we arrived at 6:00 the wonderful night nurse (Jennifer) told us that the first surgery of the day had been canceled and Clay was number 1 on the O.R. list. We were allowed to stay in the room as they prepped him for surgery and the wheeled him out at about 7:00 a.m. Around 9:30 we saw Dr. Purdue the, "Burn Boss" he said the first portion had gone as planned and after a brief break they would proceed with the grafting procedure. A little bit before 11:00 a.m. they wheeled him out of the elevators and past the waiting room window. Several anxious people were up watching him as he made his grand entrance back to his new home, the ICU burn unit on the 6th floor. The doctor followed shortly and told us that they had completed three successful procedures: 1. Placement of the trachea tube. 2. A bridled feeding tube in his nose. 3.Complete grafting of his chest and stomach. The doctor said Clay was strong and had remained stable through all procedures. He also stated that if all goes well next week we would give Clay a short vacation and not schedule surgery III until Friday of next week. I told Clay's mom he would get lazy lying around all week. I am sure his little body needs some recovery time. As soon as his day nurse (Danielle) had him in fresh bandages they came down to the waiting room and let Deidra and I go visit. We as scared and proud parents assured him and ourselves that he looked great. We lost a helpmate today. Jenae had to return to Indiana to assume her duties with her own family. If we seem a bit unorganized from this point forward you will know why. We had several visitors today and are appreciative to all who stop in. We received a very special poem from our friend the world renowned poet Lee Wiley Burch of Newcastle, TX. Although I did not ask his permission I would like to end this update with his poem. It's pretty hard to type this and it really touched us. Thank you Lee

"Little Wrangler"
For Clay David Fite

Hey there little wrangler-We're all prayin for you here,
That again you'll run and laugh and play on your ranch now wet with tears
That we cried because we love you, and miss your smiling face,
and we'll smile too, then dry our eyes, when God returns you to this place.

Be strong, little wrangler - and us big folks will do the same,
because God is so much more to us than just a holy name-
We'll place our hands together - so His may cure and mend,
Your painful wounds - my broken heart - and those of all your friends.

Get well now, Little Wrangler - you've got a lot to do,
There's horses to feed and steers to show and brothers - to name a few.
There's school and girls and pickups - and things you've yet to dream-
and enough cousins down the road to play to start up your own team!

Sleep tight now, Little Wrangler - while I write to Mom & Dad -
To let them know we love 'em - even more when times grow sad,
I know your hearts are heavy - life sometimes can be unfair-
But keep holding God and each other for that little Wrangler over there.

Vaya con Dios, my friends-
with love -
Lee Wiley Burch
February 19, 2009