Watch the video at the end of this article.
Introduction
We’ve known for the last couple of months that this moment was coming into view, quietly but steadily, like a distant storm that you can see forming on the horizon long before it reaches the shore. It was never a surprise in the sense of being unexpected, but it still carried a weight that settles deep in the chest when reality finally begins to take shape. That understanding is part of why we made the decision to come to Texas in the first place. We needed time, space, and access to the right care—because when a child’s health is involved, every detail matters, and every choice carries long-term consequences.
Throughout February and March, we traveled across the state, visiting several children’s hospitals. Each visit brought its own mixture of hope, anxiety, and careful evaluation. We met doctors, listened to care teams, walked through hallways filled with quiet urgency, and tried to imagine what life would look like in each place during one of the most critical moments of our lives. Some hospitals felt too far removed, others lacked the depth of specialized experience we were searching for, and a few came very close to feeling right—but something always made us pause and think again.
In the end, after all those weeks of comparing, reflecting, and praying through every detail, we made a decision that brought a strange sense of calm: Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin. It wasn’t chosen lightly. It was chosen because of the expertise of the cardiac team, the reputation of the surgeons, and the way the staff treated not just the patient, but the entire family standing beside her. There is a difference between medical care that is simply competent and care that feels deeply human, and in those hallways, we felt that difference clearly.
Even with the decision made, the reality of what lies ahead does not become easier. Indiana’s open-heart surgery is scheduled for this Wednesday morning. That sentence alone carries a gravity that is difficult to fully express. In the days leading up to it, time seems to move differently—sometimes too fast, sometimes unbearably slow. There are moments of preparation, conversations with doctors, last-minute instructions, and then quiet moments where no words are needed at all.
There is also a kind of strength that begins to appear in unexpected places. In the way the medical team speaks with steady confidence. In the way family members hold on to each other a little longer. In the way hope does not disappear, even when fear is present. It becomes clear that this journey is not only about surgery or medicine, but about trust—trust in skill, trust in preparation, and trust in the possibility of healing.
As Wednesday approaches, the focus narrows to what matters most: giving Indiana the best possible chance, surrounding her with care, and holding onto the belief that this step is part of a path toward recovery. Whatever happens in the operating room, everything leading up to it has been guided by love, careful thought, and the determination to do what is right for her future.