She was wheeled away to surgery in silence. She didn't bat an eyelash as they took her away. Mom and Dad, on the other hand, fought back the tears and tried to quell the butterflies in their stomachs.
A texting and telephone system is in place at Lurie's so parents can get regular updates throughout the surgery. Half-way through we got a call that she was doing well. Blood loss at a minimum and the left leg completed. Right leg about to get started.
We sat with our Pastor and had oatmeal and coffee. We talked. We discussed. We prayed. Grandma and Grandpa joined us at lunchtime. Another call was made from us to the operating room and they were just finishing up the left leg. We had an hour to go before we were out of the woods...in the clear. We took that hour to have lunch despite the butterflies dancing in our stomachs. Good conversation ensued.
Next to the impressive dining area is one of Ella's favorite places in the hospital...Lori's Gift Shop. As we were searching for a new stuffed animal to help welcome Ella back from surgery Lindsay received a phone call from the OR. Surgery was finished and Ella was being taken to ICU. Butterflies multiplied and seemingly grew. Questions swirled in unison with those butterflies...how much blood did she lose? How did her respiratory system hold up? Was extubation successful or was she still intubated? What kind of casting was used--a hard plaster cast or a removable total body splint (this determination would be made at the time of surgery based on several factors discovered during surgery)?
How was our Squishy?
We found a stuffed giraffe that we knew Ella would love and headed back up to the OR floor. Shortly after, Ella's surgeon brought us to the 16th floor (ICU) and we sat with him for a briefing.
Ella did wonderfully in surgery. Blood loss at a minimum, her respiratory system tolerated the procedure well, and extubation was without incidence. They decided on a removable body splint.
While her right femur did crack while the brace was being installed the surgeon explained that he simply moved the brace to another part of the bone and the bone will heal itself quickly. We'll take it!
The first night in the ICU sleep eluded Ella as the pain invaded her little body. If she did fall asleep it was for a short time. Inevitably though she woke up crying...yelling for Mommy, Daddy, Doctor.
Through the night we took turns tending to her, the nurse being there each time. We soothed her, medicated her, and reassured her. She wanted her brace off...that's all she wanted. Doctor's orders forbade it.
Morning crept into the room and the pain persisted. Every waking moment she was crying. An order went in requesting Valium...we had to wait though. The staff thought that muscle spasms was contributed greatly to her pain...Valium should relieve the spams.
By late morning and following many tears, the Valium arrived and quickly took effect. Her mood changed, her voice changed, her comfort level changed...all for the better. She's on a schedule for the Valium now as a way to manage her pain. It's a roller coaster as the medication wears off and we wait for the next cycle...we're adjusting accordingly, though.
She's strong...no doubt about it. The staff sees that too. With anticipation we wait to hear if we can move out of ICU and onto a different floor. Going home, however, is a conversation we have yet to have...only time will tell.
A texting and telephone system is in place at Lurie's so parents can get regular updates throughout the surgery. Half-way through we got a call that she was doing well. Blood loss at a minimum and the left leg completed. Right leg about to get started.
We sat with our Pastor and had oatmeal and coffee. We talked. We discussed. We prayed. Grandma and Grandpa joined us at lunchtime. Another call was made from us to the operating room and they were just finishing up the left leg. We had an hour to go before we were out of the woods...in the clear. We took that hour to have lunch despite the butterflies dancing in our stomachs. Good conversation ensued.
Next to the impressive dining area is one of Ella's favorite places in the hospital...Lori's Gift Shop. As we were searching for a new stuffed animal to help welcome Ella back from surgery Lindsay received a phone call from the OR. Surgery was finished and Ella was being taken to ICU. Butterflies multiplied and seemingly grew. Questions swirled in unison with those butterflies...how much blood did she lose? How did her respiratory system hold up? Was extubation successful or was she still intubated? What kind of casting was used--a hard plaster cast or a removable total body splint (this determination would be made at the time of surgery based on several factors discovered during surgery)?
How was our Squishy?
We found a stuffed giraffe that we knew Ella would love and headed back up to the OR floor. Shortly after, Ella's surgeon brought us to the 16th floor (ICU) and we sat with him for a briefing.
Ella did wonderfully in surgery. Blood loss at a minimum, her respiratory system tolerated the procedure well, and extubation was without incidence. They decided on a removable body splint.
While her right femur did crack while the brace was being installed the surgeon explained that he simply moved the brace to another part of the bone and the bone will heal itself quickly. We'll take it!
The first night in the ICU sleep eluded Ella as the pain invaded her little body. If she did fall asleep it was for a short time. Inevitably though she woke up crying...yelling for Mommy, Daddy, Doctor.
Through the night we took turns tending to her, the nurse being there each time. We soothed her, medicated her, and reassured her. She wanted her brace off...that's all she wanted. Doctor's orders forbade it.
Morning crept into the room and the pain persisted. Every waking moment she was crying. An order went in requesting Valium...we had to wait though. The staff thought that muscle spasms was contributed greatly to her pain...Valium should relieve the spams.
By late morning and following many tears, the Valium arrived and quickly took effect. Her mood changed, her voice changed, her comfort level changed...all for the better. She's on a schedule for the Valium now as a way to manage her pain. It's a roller coaster as the medication wears off and we wait for the next cycle...we're adjusting accordingly, though.
She's strong...no doubt about it. The staff sees that too. With anticipation we wait to hear if we can move out of ICU and onto a different floor. Going home, however, is a conversation we have yet to have...only time will tell.
