My daughter's surgery.

[Mouse9]

I'm sorry for not letting you guys know what has been happening, but, I have been running around since Mid May doing responsibility stuff.

My daughter had surgery June 13 on her back to help straighten her back. She had a 58 degree curvature to her spine. It wasn't hindering much but would in the future as it increased over time. Of course she wasn't whole-hearted for it, but wasn't against it either. The doctor presented it like it was something that had to be done and the sooner the better. My husband and I totally agreed.

Well, so far everything has gone pretty good.

We went in on that Wednesday and the surgery it self took less time than the doctor anticipated. She was sent right from surgery to pediatrics ICU because they didn't have any patients at that time so no time was spent in a recovery room per se. We had wonder nurses right from the start. She spent the rest of that Wednesday until early Saturday morning in ICU. On Saturday she was just in regular pediatrics ward, in a private room, and today Sunday we are home.

She is in pain and needs oxygen during this time when she has the heaviest pain killers, but actually isn't needing as much valium as they thought she would already.

Her new x-rays are great. She isn't perfectly straight, but now, no one would be able to look and tell she isn't straight (or deformed) now where as before they could if they looked carefully.

I've had interrupted sleep these past 4 days but overall not too bad. I tried to have the nurses do everything instead of having my hand in the way.

I'm just sharing this to also let you know why I haven't been active these past few weeks. We also went to Iowa for two weeks before the surgery so my daughter could have as much fun as possible before being so limited in activities.

Well, got to go and get ready for night stuff. They spent the last two days teaching my husband and me what we will need to know to take care of her.

I'd appreciate any additional prayers. I know these next couple weeks are going to be tough because of the primary care of my daughter being in my hands instead of a trained nurse.
(I already know and have had many confirmations to the fact that I don't ever want to be a real nurse.) I have decided that each and every nurse must really be an angel here on earth. The stuff they have to do and see and put up with is too much for me.

[Zuzu's petals]

Prayers for you and your daughter, Mouse9.

[TigerLily]

I completely agree with the angels on earth, Mouse. I could never be one either. I'm glad everything went well and that you're doing it now because it probably would have become very visible (I think anyway) as she grows over the next few years. Speaking as someone who's had a lot of backpain -yeah, we don't need as much pain killers. I'll be adding my prayers for a speedy recovery.

[Gabby]

:hug2:

Wishing your daughter a speedy recovery! (Hugs are for mom, too!)

[Fuel]

Glad the surgery went well, hopefully she'll make a quick recovery.

[pocket]

Mouse, I hope your daughter heals well, and that your nursing duties become easier as you go. If you'd care to share your address, we can send her cards. Time is going to hang heavy for her, and a little mail might be something to look forward to.

[An-g_BB]

((((Mouse & Mouse Jr'ette)))))
Gentle hugs...and wishes for speedy healing!
Will keep you all in our prayers too.
Happy to hear of the success and may that continue for her recovery.
I am sure as momma...it hurts you too! :hug2:

[Mouse9]

She must like being home better. She isn't as irritable, at least, so far.

She did say the bed is better and that the hospital should have better beds for people who are there (ha Ha). They have great beds, she just was in more pain at that time, is my guess. (Their generic lazyboys for the parents could be better. Everytime I had to turn over I ended up sitting up, until I was able to put more weight on the top part. Wakes you up completely each time that happens. But, it was better than a regular chair.)

So far she has gotten three stuffed bears, a stuffed dog, two dozen roses, and about a half dozen cards. Today is her birthday and we had told her we would go out to either to her favorite restaurant (Red Lobster) or another great one after she can go out again. We did go to Red Lobster while we were in Des Moines and she got to eat her favorite food (crab legs) as an early birthday, but her dad wasn't with us, so maybe we can go again saying it wasn't a legit birthday meal because dad couldn't come. Then reward her for all she has gone through with her favorites, again.

Our address is:
Hays
1011 N. 18th St., Colo Sprgs, CO 80904

My family are just now sending cards, so she hasn't been down about things like that, yet.


Gotta go. the "Bell" rang.

[frawniemae]

I know too well the stress you are under right now and I'll send prayers up for you and yours. Sleep when you can. Accept all the help you are offered. Order out. Use paper plates. Let your dog (or your neighbor's dog) clean the floors! Ha! :)
Try to take time out for yourself.

Seriously, I hope your daughter enjoys a quick and full recovery. Hugs!!

[snip the elf]

I'll send my prayers your way! :)

[Slitter]

No bed is ever as good as your own bed in your own room in your own house! And it sounds like you are probably enjoying being back in yours too. At least it doesn't turn into a chair every time you move. :)

Maybe I should know this but how old is your daughter?

It sounds like she is doing very well. If you can get through this without throwing that bell out the window, then I'll be able to say you got through it very well too. ;)

I bet you can get carryout from Red Lobster.

I will keep you both in my thoughts.

[tralee]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your daughter. She sounds like a really brave girl. And Happy Birthday to your daughter.

[Mouse9]

My daughter must really be feeling better OR has decided bellyaching about it isn't getting the sympathy or desired effect.

The doctor had recommended a home-nurse to come and check-in on us. She came today and the patient is doing great in all areas. (blood pressure, oxygen levels, pulse, and dry bandage.) A home physical therapist is to come sometime later when we get over the first two week time (I think). The good thing that happened with the nurse coming she told me I could give more valium than what I thought. The hospital nurses said one 1 pill every six hours and the bottle actually says 1 or 2 pills. When I asked if it could be a typo she said that the pill is such a low dosage anyway that she is sure it isn't a typo and that the nurse just didn't know for sure (since she talked to me before I had actually gotten the medicine.) I suppose I could easily call the doctor's office to clarify to make sure. (I will) Better safe than sorry. It is for muscle spasms since they had to reposition the muscles (I believe).

Slitter, my daughter is 14 years old as of yesterday! This is pretty much the normal age they have this type of surgery. Your idea about take-out from Red Lobster does sound good, especially if we get desperate to get her to eat something.

I made her french toast this morning and she really liked it. Normally she will eat 3 slices. Today she was only able to finish one. But that was more food at one sitting than she has been doing, so I am grateful.

Got to go. I think I'll get a nap in, as well.

[Slitter]

I'm glad to hear she is continuing to do well. Yeah, no point complaining if it doesn't do you any good. LOL, you remind me of my mom. "It'll feel better when it quits hurting" was often all we could get out of her.

I'm sure when she is feeling better yet and especially when she can move around a little more and burn calories, she'll get back on her feed. Reduced appetite could also be a side effect of the valium.

[Tiberius]

I was wondering how old she was too…Happy birthday to the Mouseketeer! How difficult for both of you, but she sounds like she is on the road to recovery. My sisters and I call red lobster, St. Lobster…I don’t know, it just came out of my sister’s mouth one day and when we stopped laughing that was its new name…sheesh that was like 10 or more years ago. Is your daughter stuck in bed? Playing lots of video games? Or is she supposed to be up and around or not till the PT comes in? Man, 14 is hard enough without all this added in…You sound like a cool mom…French toast, St. lobster and of course the bell :> Yea, later in the summer you can run that bell over with your car…sorry for all the stress…you handle it well, lucky your daughter has you to lean on.

[Mouse9]

At this time she hasn't felt like playing video games. She has been on the computer a couple of times. A friend turned out to be on as well and it did prolong her computer stay up to ten minutes (yeah)so I could count it toward her sitting up time.

We were told we need to walk her as much as she will let us and have her sit up as long as she can. At the hospital they called the walking part "walking the loop". So I am trying to estimate how many "laps" of walking around our small basement level is equal to one loop. The sitting up is suppose to be for at least an hour. You can include the time she is sitting up eating. Yesterday she did a little of feeding herself and we are continuing that today.

I feel mean having to make her do all these things. I even lie and say I won't give her the next pain pill if she doesn't do these things. So far she complies.

I don't feel like a great mom right now but I'll get through it.

Thanks for your support.

[Virgo6]

Mouse,
My friend Barbara's daughter had that same surgery several years ago and she recovered so well. Her school life was active and she went on to college with no problems.
She got married a few years ago and now is the mom to a sweet baby girl.

Glad to hear your daughter's surgery went well and hope that her recovery is speedy. It does take time, but one day she will be "back" to her old self.
Good thoughts going your way. Keep us posted when you can on how she is doing.

[frawniemae]

Don't beat yourself up about having to be "mean". You are being a great mom! I wish for your daughter a speedy recovery and the knowledge that you are doing what is best for her! If you can, have a good friend or relative give you a couple hours worth of break time just so you can regroup and have some "me" time. You need it so that you can keep doing what you need to do to help her. :hug2:

[Tiberius]

Yea frawniemae is totally right, take a tiny bit of time for yourself, that will probably be hard though. Wrap up going to get her a present while you go out to eat or something and then you might allow your self the time. You are not mean; you are doing what has to be done, when the PT get’s there he/she will praise you to the moon for what you’re doing. Allowing her to not move when they explicitly told you to have her move would not be a good thing. Actually if you did not do what you’re doing now the movement later would be so much more painful for her. I know what you’re saying about feeling mean, I work with the elderly and it is really something walking away and telling an elder to push the wheelchair themselves… But I know it’s for the best in the end…and your daughter knows you only want the best for her and clearly trusts you and will continue to do as you ask. Mouse you’re the good mom...the bad mom would have allowed her daughter to miss the sitting up time and laps.

[Slitter]

Mouse, You probably also hated taking her in for shots and what-not when she was very young. But you knew it was the right thing to do and you did it. The surgery was the same thing. I can't imagine you relished the thought of a doctor carving on her but it was for her long-term well being and happiness. The recovery period is just a longer-lasting version of the same thing. If it wasn't the right thing to do for her (FOR her, not against her, mind you), the doctors wouldn't tell you to do it.

So you are being a great mom. Don't you ever doubt it.

[TigerLily]

Mouse, you might try some straight talk with her rather than feeling mean (underhanded) and just say, hey, here's what we need to do to get you up and going again and you're as responsible for this as I am. So let's get going kid.

If you can find a way to make her feel empowered through her healing then you'll feel better about the days you have to push her to do things. She's at an age when there could be a really big building block in her self confidence made through this. An I can take care of myself and am good with responsibility type thing. hm, maybe i'm too tired but I know there's a really good idea somewhere in here.....hopefully you can find it ;) One thing you might think about doing is a "schedule" for when certain things should happen. Like bath at 8am or something. Again...there's a good thought in there somewhere....but I just can't fully form it right now. Anyway, hope there's something worth thinking about in there. Sending more good thoughts her way.

[Kramer]

What a whirlwind you have been under! I am glad you updated us Mouse and I most certainly will be keeping your daughter in my prayers. I hope her recovery goes smoothly and as painlessly as possible :hug2:

[Mouse9]

We had our follow-up checkup today.

My daughter is doing great. She scares herself much more than it is worth, before we get there.

We get there and we are thinking they will have to remove staples. The nurse starts looking and there wasn't any staples. It appears that during surgery, the doctor (knowing my daughters phobia for needles, pins, anything that pricks you even slightly) had decided to tape her instead of using staples. There were little strips of tape and then a big one covering all of them and then another larger one over that. No leaking occured at all. Her bandage and everything was completely dry that whole time (almost 2 weeks).

So, all that worrying for nothing.
Next we had an x-ray taken to find out the results.

The results in a nutshell were great. A slight curvature, still, but nothing that will hamper or keep my daughter from doing anything she would want to do. (unless horseback riding is in her plans. She would be able to, just not all the time.)

Anyway, I was given a timeline of about how much painkillers she will still be needing and how to decrease them a little at a time as the pain lessens.

Then, the doctor talked to my daughter and told her she will have to push herself to do more if she wants to get better as quickly as she should. We will be having a physical therapist coming to the home for the next month, I think 2 times a week, but we will find out Thursday.

School will start August 16th and I am sure she will be more than ready by that time. Hopefully, in as tip top shape as she can be.

The next step is getting to the point where she can get out of bed (and into it) without my help. When we get to that point it will be a lot easier on me.

[frawniemae]

Sounds like great news! I'm glad everything looked so good! No infection, no redness, no leakage...that is wonderful!!! I'm sure the PT will have lots of advice and exercise plans for you and your DD. That will help in a lot of ways...especially with the monotony of having to stay put so much. Keeping you and yours in my thoughts and prayers...:hug2: