Musings from Missouri (part 4/surgery)

On the morning of surgery, Lucy seemed her typical little self.  In fact she did her normal car thing and serenaded us from the parking lot at Haven House to the hospital parking garage.  When Lucy sings, we know that "all is right in her world."  The first eight to ten months home, we did not hear music coming from the back seat instead when we'd glance back we'd often see a somber look and/or that dreaded car sick look.  Hearing her sing was such a blessing to me as I knew that meant she wasn't yet having anxiety about her surgery (because I did explain to her what was going to happen and I wasn't sure with having just had a major surgery on her spinal cord seven months ago, how she was going to feel about hearing the word "surgery"?)

Hospital gowns and orange casts

Not long after we checked in, we we called back to the pre-op. rooms.  I questioned what time surgery was slated for and was told about 9:50.  Great!  This gave plenty of time to have Lucy's current (orange) cast removed and  then she would be molded for her AFO's (more about those in a later post).  I was praying that the removal of the cast would NOT trigger an onslaught of trauma for our little girl leading up to surgery time.

I'm soo excited to tell you that God overwhelmed Lucy with  a sense of security so much so that she did.not.cry.or.scream.!  In all the casts she's had since coming home (including breaking her arm) which is more than ten times, she's been so fearful.  Not so much today.  She had her hello kitty earphones on and Daddy put his arms around her on the bed and she took her daddy's hands and covered her eyes (which was such a wise move on her part) and Mommy held her other hand.  She was notably nervous but not traumatized like so often it appeared.  Still thanking God for that blessing as it set her up for continued calm as we ended up waiting until about 11:30 until she was taken into surgery.

Thumbs up for hello kitty headphones

Debating which song to listen to next

Thus the shoe size difference!

The drowsys settling in after having her versed

Last minute snuggles with Mommy

Dr. Dobbs performed what's called an open reduction internal fixation with k-wire fixation (pin insertion), long toe flexor tenotomy and a tendo-achilles lengthening.  Whew - how's that for a mouth full!  Surgery went well and within about an hour and a quarter the doctor was done the surgical portion.  After the surgery was completed, Lucy had her cast put on while in the operating room - a split leg cast was put on and overwrapped tightly w/ dark green ace bandage.  This allows for swelling of surgical areas yet still keeping foot in proper position.  Miss Lucy is a hard one to come out of anesthesia -- the recovery room nurse gave up and took her sound asleep four floors up to settle her in the room she would be in over night.

Can.not.wake.up!

Nausea is awful

Lucy's inter venous sight was kept so that regular intervals of medication could be administered via her IV sight throughout the evening and early morning.  Pain was managed well all evening she struggled more with on and off bouts of nausea from the anesthesia throughout the night.  

Nausea was controlled and pain seemed to be managed which were the green lights needed to be discharged!  We left St. Louis Children's Hospital about 10:30 a.m. and headed back to Haven House.

Not long after settling back into our room, Lucy took a nice long nap.  I had a feeling when she awoke she'd have pain.  After about a two hour nap, Lu Lu woke up crying because of pain and was extremely hot.  I had Daddy run next door to Walgreen's and pick up a thermometer.  Poor baby had a temp. of 103.  As instructed, I called the Doctor's office (and my Mama!).  Since she has no other symptoms and about an hour after giving her tylenol her temp. was coming down the nurse at the dr.'s office just told us to keep a close eye on her and make sure the temp. did come down if it spikes too high, we'll have to head into ER.  

Throughout the remainder of the afternoon and up until now (6:45 p.m.) we've been keeping either acetaminophen or ibuprofen in her system and a damp wash cloth on her forehead  to keep pain (and fever) at bay as well as her foot constantly elevated as her toes were getting puffy/swollen.

That's the update from St. Louis, Missouri.  Thanks so much friends for your love and prayers.  Please keep praying that Lucy will continue to heal, we can keep her pain managed without the use of the stronger narcotics we have in and that fevers won't spike.  We are scheduled to travel back to Pennsylvania on Saturday and we want a fever and pain free girl en route!