The day went like this- check in at Gillette at 6:15am on Friday, May 6th. We were promptly escorted back to the pre-op area where they took some vitals and asked lots of repetative questions. The doctor was ON TIME. When Madeline had her surgery the doctor was late! Not nice when you're dealing with babies. Oh, I should tell you we used the same doctor. We really do think he's a wonderful surgeon and has very good bedside manner which I feel is extremely important when dealing with children, or anyone for that matter. He came in, made a few purple dots on her feet, explained what he was going to do and made references to Madeline's procedure as well, put his initials on her feet and made sure we had all our questions or concerns answered. Then she was quickly taken back for surgery and John went into work for a few hours (we were just a few blocks from his office) and I grabbed a coffee and my book and there I sat. I found myself a blubbering mess of tears for the first hour. Just imagining our little baby so sad wondering what all these people dressed in blue were doing to her. But, I knew she was in the best possible care and so I pulled it together. Eventually I struck up some conversations with other parents waiting for their little ones. And speaking of which, if you ever thing you have a rough life, I would encourage you to sit in the surgery waiting room at Gillette- seeing some of the children come through that door really puts things in perspective and I have a new respect for parents with disabled children and frankly feel so fortunate and even lucky that my children had a few extra digits. They really are special.
Surgery lasted just about 4 hours from start to casting. We chose a red cast- not sure why now, but what's done is done. I think in my head I was remembering how dirty Madeline's was by the end and it was white. But now I think she looks like she's wearing Ronald McDonald pants!
In recovery we just had to make sure she was waking up, taking fluids without vomiting and just showing that she was generally coming out of it okay. And she did. She was VERY tired, but eventually we got her home and it was back to life as usual...getting used to her added weight from the cast would take some getting used to. We were sent home with a prescription pain medication, which we used religiously for the first 24 hours and now it's just not necessary.
Roughly two weeks in, we're doing fine. Lucy doesn't seem to mind the casts during the day, but at night she has a difficult time getting comfortable and so there are a lot of tears from both her and mom as I try to make her comfortable, but just can't. June 1st they come off. I have a check mark on each day that passes by!
Having gone through this before, it made it easy in some respects, but it's never an easy thing to see your baby go into surgery. I'm SO glad its over.
Here are the photos from her day, from top to bottom. She was covered with a "surgery blanket" which has tiny holes and when it's turned on, blows warm air. It is said to aide in the success of persons undergoing anestesia or surgery. I think it's a crock, but why not give it a shot. She didn't seem to mind it. Then of course we have the toe shots. And recovery. She had a few drips of morphine which helped her to sleep. And in the end, big sister Madeline knows her sister Lucy has owies on her feet but says, "Look Lucy, look at my pretty pink toes". Soon she will have the same 10 pretty pink toes.
Here is a link to the entry done when Madeline had her surgery. You'll see that time is precious these days having two under the age of 3. My writing is certainly not as descript as it once was. I hope as they get older I'll have more time. Anyway, same story of Madeline's toe applies to Lucy.
http://themaslows.blogspot.com/2009/05/story-of-madelines-toe.html
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