Not everything requires a re-do. Meals and laundry have a way of feeling like they're constantly on re-do, but in reality they're just in a constant state of cycling.
Whittaker needed a Big ole' Re-Do. A Cartilage Tympanoplasty Re-do.
The surgery 11 months earlier had been a success in many ways but the cartilage screen that was placed to protect the ear bones from the eardrum did not stay in place. So after evaluation the re-do was scheduled. This time around we knew what to expect both physically from the surgery, emotionally from the recovery and psychologically from the reactions that Whittaker had last time to the wearing of hospital pajamas, to waking from anesthesia and missing the ipad, to becoming disenchanted with recovery restrictions. So we prepared. I even told Whittaker a week prior that it was going to happen again and oddly enough he was ecstatic! Every day he asked if it was ear dr. day.
We prepared a recovery spot upstairs. He set up his favourite stuffed friends to keep him company. He gathered together some books, toys, games and legos to occupy his time while sequestered in a corner of my bedroom for two weeks. He requested movies, audio books and games on the tablet. He required a tray for his meals and a bell for contacting us to have his needs met. We acquired many face masks.
We panicked a little because he developed a slight cough the days leading up to the surgery, but day of his lungs were clear and he was approved for surgery.
We packed our bags with similar items from almost a year before and prepared for Surgery day. This time surgery was scheduled for 11am. Last time it was 7:30am. Earlier is definitely better! Less people scheduled ahead means less getting bumped back on the roster. Earlier means he can start his fasting while he's already asleep and we leave the house before he's realized he's missed breakfast... Later means, he wakes naturally and the sun is rising in our eyes the entire drive to the hospital. It also means he's starving and knows it and isn't impressed that food is being denied. It also means that the child life specialists are far more important to him. He needs entertaining and now he knows to ask for stuff.
We retook the pre-surgery selfie.
Although we had discussed that he would need to wear the hospital jammies since it had been a subject of turmoil last time, he still tried to simply put them on over his own clothes. He finally agreed that he would prefer any messes and stains go on the hospital jammies instead of his own and agreed to wear them if he could have a new pair of yellow socks.
Last time he only had about 3 minutes with electronics and when he awoke from the anesthesia it was a source of great upset that he no longer had any electronics. This time however, with the long wait and then delay after delay and instead of having an 11:00 start time, he had a 2:00 start time. He had ample time to try the Xbox, the Playstation, the Wii, Mine Craft and the IPad.
He has since commented that he'd like to go back again. Perhaps hospitals ought to consider that they are causing pediatric surgery to have too great an appeal.
Post Op. First time, he felt betrayed because of the pain and was willing to be appeased with a root beer slushie and some tv, but still whimpered with misunderstanding why he hurt so. The experience coming into the re-do betrayed him. As he woke from the anesthesia he asked for the slushie as though it was to be expected, but instead of it appeasing him, it upset his stomach and he was nauseous. We had to remain an extra two hours waiting for him to be less queasy. He also had forgotten about the I.V. and was annoyed by it. All the annoyance with the unexpected however perked him up faster than the previous time.
He recommends the orange slushy over the root beer.
Recovery. Last time, the walk to the car and the car ride were exhausting and miserable and he seemed lethargic and sad. The somberness continued for a few days, laying in bed calmly accepting his restrictions and asking only for his stuffed animals and new hospital fleece blanket.
Recovery this time.... He chatted with Daddy on the phone while we drove home and requested a movie in the van. We came home after dinner time and he was starving. He had broth, a roll and some yoghurt and then fell asleep. By 4am however he was uncomfortable sleeping with the bandaging over his ear and wanted up and hasn't been content to stay in bed since. He's alert and content and has no complaints of any pain. He is bothered by the restrictions that kept him in his bed for a week while he felt fine and is annoyed that he isn't to be running or jumping. He constantly sneaks out of bed, downstairs and outside. This will be a long 6 weeks.
Guests at Duncan's birthday were troubled that they couldn't eat cake through their masks, but Emerson has been phenomenal at his willingness to wear his mask whenever he plays with Whittaker.
Day of surgery tidbits.
*Hospital is undergoing MAJOR renovations. Internet access was sporadic at best... Noise level in the waiting areas was...well like sitting just outside a construction site. I had a splitting headache
*Sarah called mid morning to tell me that Duncan had been in contact with some Nutella... his eyes were swelling shut and he was wheezing... "Where's his medicine and how much?"
*Emerson napped late but slept a long time and Sarah claims he didn't once have a potty accident. I told her I'd leave home more often
*Whittaker threw up all over me. I'm a seasoned surgical parent... I had a change of clothes for both of us in the van.
*Last time Olaf and Moolah were stuffed companions, this time 'Hank Hi-five Sparkly Fin McFish Lips' attended.
*The second surgery repaired the screen that fell and also rebuilt his eardrum this time. Some cartilage was grafted for the rebuild so he has two scars this time. He thinks that's cool.
