The first 24 hours - Alveolar Bone Graft

Well, we made it to the big day by the skin of our teeth and all went ahead as planned.  They actually ended up calling us to check in an hour earlier at 1:30 which was fantastic since we had a very hungry little girl on our hands.  Her last meal for that day was at 7:30, last clear liquids at 11:30.  She was just starting to get cross when the phone call came at getting in the car was enough of a distraction to lessen the complaining a bit.  

 

We checked in first at the main desk (wait), then at the surgery center (wait), and finally they took us back to the surgery prep area.  Rachel passed the time watching Enchanted.  Nothing like a good musical to get your mind off of things ❈

 

Once in surgery prep we spoke to the CNA (wait), Nurse (wait), Surgery Nurse (wait), Child Life Specialist (wait), Anesthesia Doc (wait), and our Primary Surgeon (we love him and he is so worth the wait!). 

Finally it was time to get changed (Dad is a great assistant!).

 

And a little more waiting (look close, this is the last time you'll be seeing her great smile for a while).

 

Rachel, also known as our little Rock Star, has mastered the fine art of being scared and brave at the same time.  She chose to walk back with the Anesthesia Doc all on her own.  Considering the epic meltdown she had the night before we weren't sure how this hand-off was going to go. We were so proud of her!

 

She left us about 3:00, assumed they started around 3:30 or so and they called us to let us know she was out of surgery and in recovery around six.  They said she would be another hour in recovery before they took her to her post-op room and we could see her.  It was a lonnnnnng wait!  About an hour and forty five minutes later (due to shift change while she was in recovery) we were able to see her.  She was pretty out off it but everything had gone as planned.

 

She had a little nap, and then we had a really long night.  She didn't sleep much.  We watched movies, got vitals checked, slowly hobbled to the bathroom, talked about why the  three week old baby in the next bed was crying (coming off morphine after his first of three open heart surgeries) (I didn't tell her the mom said there was only a 35% chance the surgeries would work... grateful we were just in for a bone graft and thinking we are getting off so easy here....) talked about why his mommy wasn't picking him up (they lived far away and she had two other preschoolers she was caring for in a sleeping room down the hall), talked about what all the beeps and bells and noises were.  Got vitals checked multiple times. Tried to rest.

Finally it was morning. Doctors came an made their rounds.. she ate some chocolate ice cream...  drank enough water and used the bathroom enough times to please everyone...  they said she could go home before lunch.  We ended up getting to leave just after 1pm.  She was ready to go but terrified of getting her I.V. out.  She made it through, but there was a lot of panic and tears.  After that she was scooped up into a wheel chair and we were on our way.  (Except of course for the wait at the pharmacy.) Although it's her hip/leg that is giving her the most pain what you see outwardly is the swelling. Swelling was really starting to kick in just as we were leaving the hospital.  

 

Finally we were home, there was a good hour where she was feeling pretty horrible when we first got home.  Swelling continued to grow.

 

But a while later, after two small bowls of mushed up stew, pear sauce and a lot of water (we can drink it here or go back to the hospital kiddo, what do you wan to do?  Easy choice, even though she didn't want to drink it.) she was feeling well enough to give her Dad a manicure.  

 

She's doing well.  You can see the steeled look in her eye (I miss her sparkle. I miss her smile).  She's going to get through this just fine, mostly because she has no other choice...  I wish she didn't have to learn to be tough this way though.  

 

She is still very swollen this morning.  And a bit cross (to be expected).  Not able to walk on her own yet. Sick of taking medicine.  Hoping we see some improvement over the next couple of days.  I'll update again soon, hopefully the pain and swelling will have lessened for her by then.

Click here to read about recovery days 2 and 3.

Comments

[Jana]

It's always great to be over the big hurtles - for all of you!

John, pink isn't your color. ;)

[Marie]

Oh Jenn, I'm so glad you all made it through and are now on the recovery side of things! Rachel (despite the swelling) looks so much like you as a girl. :) I'll keep her in my prayers.

[Stacy Heller]

You're all being very brave (including John - getting a manicure!). Steel underneath sparkle is ultimately a great combo... Hang in there, you've got a big cheering section rooting for you.

[Miss Leah]

Hi Rachel! You are such a brave, strong girl. I am so proud of you. All of your friends are asking about you . . . they miss you a lot. We will try to write an e-mail to you Monday at choice time. Rest a lot and keep getting better.
Much love to you!
Miss Leah

[DeEtte Currie]

Just checking in to see how that beautiful daughter of yours did with surgery. That will so be us in about 3 months. She's a brave girl..walking down to the OR herself! And yeah for a great daddy who's willing to get a manicure! I hope she's recovering well and the pain diminishes quickly. Just curious..what are your food instructions? Hannah was 3 when her palate was repaired (late repair..I adopted her at 33 months old and it was not repaired at that time) and she was on a soft food diet for a month. Didn't have to be liquids..but nothing hard or crunchy. She has a different surgeon doing the bone graft though..I know it can vary, but was just curious what to expect. We'll talk to him again in April and I guess get more info. then.

[Becky]

Rachel is amazing...what a brave girl! I can't believe she walked back there all by herself! Her swelling will go away soon and underneath it all, she's PERFECT! Beautiful inside and out! I have to say, I'm impressed that Daddy would do anything to make her happy, even if that meant getting a manicure with PINK polish! =) Way to go guys!

[Deanna]

Jennifer, thank you for the update. I am so glad to hear the surgery went well. What an amazing young lady you have there.

[Jenn]

Wow Jenn -- it sound horrible, but wonderful at the same time. I am so glad the surgery went well. I am so proud of her for walking on her own to the surgery!

And it's done. I know she has recovery ahead of her -- but the scary part is done!

[Andi]

Rachel is such a brave and beautiful little girl. You must be so proud of her. It looks like things are on the right track and her recovery is going well. So wonderful! Hang in there!

[Jacquie Smith]

My son Brody just had this surgery done on March 22nd and he is already on the mend! His speech is very nasal right now and I wondered if you experienced this with your daughter and if so, will it normalize on its own?

[Heather]

Thank you for sharing this experience. My daughter will be having her surgery done in a few short weeks. Your pictures and detailed information helped more than any packet from our doctor. While we are still very nervous, we are thankful to have a better idea of what to expect. I hope Rachel is recovered and feeling back to her old self by now. She is a beautiful child.