Summertime is in full swing at the Johns’ house. Swim lessons, therapy appointments, and family visits dot the calendar and the days are passing quickly. We have the dates for Campbell’s next two surgeries, August 14th for her cranial vault remodel and October 3rd for her first finger and toe release. Both surgeries will be at CHLA.
The August 14th surgery will be a cranial vault remodel with an orbital rim advancement. During this surgery, the surgeons will be reshaping Campbell’s skull as well as building out her forehead. While it looks like Campbell has a large forehead, her brow bone (aka supraorbital ridge), is actually pushed back into her cranium. I can reach up and feel the bone underneath my eyebrows, but Campbell’s bone appears missing, buried deep in her skull. Dr. Urata and his team will build out an eyebrow ridge and give her a forehead while reshaping her head and giving her brain room to grow.
We’ve been told by other parents this surgery is bittersweet. Campbell’s appearance will change and the sweet face we love will look quite different. Overall, this is a good thing, as this surgery is an important step in the process to a more normal appearance. After this surgery, Campbell’s next cranial surgery hopefully won’t be until she’s around eight when she’ll undergo a facial bi-partition and mid-face advancement. Even though I’m excited about her progress, I’m also sad and have spent significant time studying her features, memorizing what she looks like.
This surgery is a scary one for us as parents. Dr. Urata, Dr. McComb and their teams are quite adept but there are still risks for Campbell. The surgeons will be cutting and reassembling her skull-cap, reshaping her brain, and building her a new forehead. (You know, fairly straightforward, common procedures for experienced surgeons. But very uncommon for parents like us.) Campbell is at risk for blood loss and she will revisit the PICU for recovery.
As the anxiety rises, we have the opportunity once again to trust the hand of the One who has brought our girl safe this far. He has been faithful in the past, and He will be again. Our job as parents is to lean into God’s wisdom, peace, and guidance and care for our girl the best we can using the gifts He’s given us.
We kindly ask for prayers for Campbell’s surgery on August 14th. Please pray for Campbell, for her health and well-being as well as for her medical team, the hospital staff, therapists, and all those who she will meet as a result of this surgery. Thank you for your support and your prayers!
Campbell Taylor's Journey 
I’ve been doing a long series on prayer and one of the men who has really blessed me is George Mueller. The way he prayed by meditating on scriptures and then proclaiming the promises before God has encouraged me so much. It has been life changing for me.
Dear Tiffany and Joel, and family:
We will definitely be praying for lovely Campbell Taylor’s upcoming surgeries and for peace of mind for all of you as you patiently wait during her recovery, and that everything will go perfectly.
I am sorry I have not been in touch for a while but my husband recently had a triple bypass and valve replacement surgery, so I have been in that “anxious” mode too. My love and prayers go out to you all and will continue. You all still amaze me, and am so thankful that we have a God who truly knows and loves us and never leaves us. Lovingly, Jan Taylor (AOG mentor) xxxxx
Texas is still praying for all the Johns, but especially Miss Campbell and her momma and daddy and all her doctors and nurses. God’s sweet peace to all of you.
Dear TA and Joel…our heart and prayers go out to you guys. I know God is teaching you so much on this journey. May He continue to hold Campbell in His arms as she travels along this long road of surgeries. Love to you all…Ryan and Melissa Yates
You bet we’ll keep on praying for all of you, and double up on the 14th. God ha already shown his love and care for sweet Campbell, and has created such an awesome support community around her. He remains so awesome. Praise the Lord!
You and your sweet girl are such a blessing as I read about what God is doing in your lives. Thank you for being vulnerable for us all.
She is a beatiful girl. She is always in my prayers. I worked for Grant and Judy.
Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T
We will continue our daily prayers for y’all, with focus on the up coming surgeries! Campbell looks so sweet and pretty in her fancy red dress! Love her photos!
Thinking and praying for all of you as always. God is so good and merciful and gracious!!
Prayers coming your way all the way Ct!! As we all know, God is good all the time, all the time God is good!!