This was the post I did for my family blog about a week post surgery. Again, I didn't give them all the nitty gritty details you kids are going to get, but its a good starting place. Following the post is the good stuff!
Two Weeks before Rykers surgery we started taping his face to prep the skin. It kind of gave us a seek peek at what the final results might be. He really didn't like it, and it was a major pain, but we did what we were told, and hopefully it paid off.
The morning of the surgery we had planned to be the first ones in surgery. Meaning that we would need to stop feeding Ryker at 3AM, get up at 4AM, leave by 5AM, check in by 6AM, and be in surgery by 7AM. Well, the best laid plans... This is what actually happened. I was a nut job the whole day before, so when I got a call informing me that Ryker had been bumped to the second surgery meaning the ear/nose and thought Doctor that was supposed to put Rykers ear tubes in at the same time as his other surgery would no longer be able to, due to the time shift, I was an even bigger mess. Then first thing in the morning we got another call. We were bumped again. They predicted his surgery time would now be 3 PM. 8 hours later then planed, which is a really big deal when your 3months old and STARVING! We finally got the call and we headed for the hospital.
We got all checked in and Ryker was prepped. He had this darling onesie on from my Grandma. It had police cars and ambulances and hospitals. Perfect attire for the event! We changed him into the tiniest hospital gown I have ever seen, and we were ready!
I was a wreak. I hadn't really slept. I got up super early, and I was about to surrender my little man. It was so extremely bitter sweet. Not the best Kodak moment of my life. This was the last I saw Ryker until a torturous 2 hours later.
Finally!!! He was done and back safe in my arms. The Surgery went perfect! The nurse wanted me to put him in his bed to move him to his recovery room. I refused. She didn't like me so much after that. Too bad.
Ryker did as good as you can expect anyone to do after being hit by a Mac truck. Me and Allan on the other hand, did as good as any parent watching there child be hit by a Mac truck, would do
Ta Da! The results.
Okay, so let me explain the following photograph. At this point Ryker had been cyring in a painfully horse voice A LOT, I had already broken down 3 times, had to leave the room when they were working on him twice, and I had just found out that the IV in Rykers foot missed the vein. So all the fluid as well as all his pain medication was being pushed into his arm tissue, and not in his vein. For THREE hours. Because of this he was beyond miserable, and we had no clue until we unwrapped him and found his arm disturbingly swollen. I freak out. I mean, FREAKED OUT. Another potential nurse friendship destroyed. My two sisters were there, including my nurse sister who assured me it would be okay, and unfortunately it happens all the time. If it weren't for them, I may now have a charge of assault on my record. So this picture was taken after I lost it, bawled my eyes out, left the room and came back after I got a hold of myself. It had been a VERY long day. So, weirdly, I kind of like this picture. It shows me at a time of extreme anger, worry, exhaustion, frustration, and the utmost real emotion of a mother with protection and love for my precious child. I would do anything for him. It was an unbelievably emotionally painful day. And this is what I looked like that day.
Then my sister reminded me about all the good parts of the day. Ryker had his face completely fixed. How awesome is that!? What an amazing blessing. I am so incredibly grateful that this is our challenge. I wouldn't trade it. Its ours. And yes its hard, but we can do hard things.
Ryker really did amazing. Once we got him on tract with the pain meds and removed the IV, he actually slept a bit. We got to leave first thing in the morning and since we have been home, he has been a champ. I can really believe that he will bounce back from this crazy fast. He's kind of eating, but good enough for now. And after three nights, he is almost back to sleeping through the night. Told you he was a rockstar! I think a few more days and we will be back to our normal. I am really amazed how well he is doing! The metal bow will stay on for about 2-3 weeks to protect his healing face. The little yellow thing on the side of his nose comes off in a few days, and the clear gadget in his nose stays a month or so. It helps with the shape. So, we made it through and we are actually doing well. We're not through the woods yet, and who knows if with kids, you ever really are, but we got one down, and that's pretty dang good. Thanks everyone for your support. That was really all we needed to make it, lots and lots of support. Thank you for you love, prayers, and cheers from the sidelines. It has meant everything to us.
Day Two
Day Three
Okay, so you get the general idea, right?
Well, here is some of that nitty gritty I was talking about.
These 24 hours are awful.
They just are. Plan on it. Amp yourself up, because this is a big step.
But when you make it through it means you will have one less surgery to go through.
Okay, a few more gems.
Don't stay overnight by yourself. Even if you have family/friends stay until late and come early in the morning. Even if there are NO beds for you, let alone another person.
DO NOT STAY ALONE.
You will need the most support, mentally and physically at 3AM and you will really want someone there. Trust me. I didn't, and oh how I wish I had.
3AM was also the same time I ran down the hallway to find a bathroom where I promptly threw up. Who know why, stress, exhaustion, bad pizza? I
I'll never know, but this brings me to my next gem.
Depending on the time or year and pitucular hospital you stay at, you may have to share a room. Yup, I said share. They DO still do that. And if in fact you do end up sharing, Like I did, you may not get the side with the bathroom. So be prepared. It's incredibly awkward, uncomfortable, and disruptive. But you'll survive. Chances are this will not happen, but just a heads up.
As stated in the above, the dumb ass nurse who missed my sons vein, causing it to swell like a sausage is sadly one of many. Check to make sure the IV is actually IN the vein about every hour and save you and your baby much pain. I didn't even know to check, but wish I had. Be your little ones advocate. I will say, I have NEVER made a nurse friend during any of Rykers surgeries. Not on purpose, but I am not there to make friends, I am there to make sure my child is getting the absolute best, at all times.
The Hardware.
By looking at the "after" pictures you may notice a few additions to Rykers face. The two important ones are the Logans bow and the nose stent.
The Logans bow is the metal half circle taped to his face. Again, some Docs use 'um, some don't. They in no way hold the skin together. All they do is create a barrier to protect the face and mouth. With this on it acts as a bumper. Anything that would get close to the mouth hits the Logans bow first. Or if the baby was to roll his face to the floor or your shoulder, it again protects the mouth from contact. At least, in theroy.
In reality, I think its stupid. And so do a lot of Doctors. Ours said that we were to keep it on until it fell off, about 3 weeks later.
It came off the first day we go home and we nevered bothered to reattach it. For Ryker, It didnt really protect anything. In, fact it just gave him something to grab on to and mess with.
The nose stint actually IS extremely important. This is the clear nose tube wisker looking thing. These act as a brace to shape the nose as it heals. It is imperative to keep them in for the best functioning results, as well as appearance. The first set is held in with a stitch. A week later they take the stitch out. From then on you tape down the "wiskers" to hold it in. Again, this is where cut up bandaids will save you life. You will have to take the stent in and out often to clean it, and the Bandaid tape is the very best for that precious skin. These stay in for up to 3 months. Ryker got to the point where he would not keep them in during the day, but even then I would put the stents in at night. These stints can really make a difference in the overall appearance and shape of the nose. As he grew we went up in stint size a few times, and no matter the size it is awful to shove it up their nose over and over. Ryker HATED it, but once it was in he forgot all about it. So, I got really good at getting it in quick. I would put a little Auqaphore on the stint to help it slide in a bit better, distract him, and have the cut up bandaids ready to go. I got pretty good at it. Maybe I can do it for a talent show one day....
Anyway, this was another item we could cross off our surgery "to do" list and I was thrilled when it was over.
Looking at Ryker now, I am AMAZED. His lips are PREFECT! And I don't mean Motherly love perfect, I mean PERFECT. His nose looks amazing as well! Our surgeon is clearly talented. And I know I did everything on my end to give him the best results possible. That alone is pretty satisfying.
Ryker today. His scar is so unnoticeable that only when the light reflects off of it in a certain way can you even see it. Isn't he Darling!?
