God most certainly "showed up & showed OUT" the morning of Mary's surgery. Our biggest concern was her anxiety level of course and Mary did soooo well! We all woke up and Robert & I were very clear to her (spoken with as much love as possible) that we were going to the doctor. She started crying immediately and as best as we could told her that the Dr. was going to fix her ear. She didn't like it but calmed down enough to be cooperative and roll with it as we drove to Vanderbilt.
We were all a bit quiet but as we walked into the lobby Mary was taken with the aquarium and televisions all on the kiddy shows! We signed in and the admissions lady even gave Curious George an ID band which we put around his neck. When they called us to the 'holding room' Mary immediately started to cry. We got her weighed and and went to our little room where eventually we were able to kid around with her and take some pictures. Jessica, the child life specialist met us and Mary really took to her and that visit loosened her up even more!
The really cool thing is that EVERYONE was on board that when the time for Mary to be taken back to the OR, the phrase was, "I'll be RIGHT BACK". Just that phrase alone was priority. Then the anesthesiologists, fellows and residents all came around, asked the same questions but they were WONDERFUL to Mary! One in particular, "Prima" (I guess that's how you spell her name) is half Chinese & half Filipino and she took to Mary right away and I believe, vice-versa. So after Mary had her "goofy juice", she was very relaxed enough that when Prima asked her if she could hold her so that she could show her another room, Mary went right into her arms. Covered in her curious George blanket, holding George and still in her PJs that she refused to take off, Prima announced to us as Mary was listening that "we'll be right back".......SUCCESS!!! Off they went, Robert and I paused still to listen for any screaming or crying and....nothing. We high-five each other and kiss and hug!
Once settled in the waiting room, I'm looking at the left hearing aid in the speciman cup. Wow. We will never, ever see this on Mary's ear again. A sense of finality came over, I suddenly not only felt a loss for this little device that helped began her hearing journey but I started to feel nervous about the surgery. The receptionist pages "Businda" overhead and indicates the call is for me and Prima is on the line to tell me that Mary did GREAT going in the OR! She went on to say that as Mary was introduced to everyone, that she repeated everyone's name and that she was great about inhaling into the mask and went to sleep easily. COOL! PRAISE GOD!.....and that "right now, the Dr. is drilling into her head and audiology is in the room so we will call back when we're about to place the implants. Now would be a good time to get some coffee"......all I really remember hearing was "Dr....drilling into her head"......weird. Disturbing actually but I was grateful to get a play by play & felt a peace, continuing to trust God!
In the meantime, Robert & I get some breakfast, our dear sweet friend Mary Stockard from The Bridge Fellowship stopped by to pray with us and Robert slept while I went through the motions of looking at magazines. Another call - yep, its Prima!!!! Its about an hour and half later and she's informing me that they are putting the implants in and about to test it!!!! She will call us back! Whew, I'm getting hyper now! Thirty minutes go by...phone call anytime now, I just
know it! Forty-five minutes goes by...hmmm....getting nervous....one hour goes by and I'm tearful now and just when Robert is giving encouraging words I look up and see Dr. Labadie heading over! He informs us that Mary did GREAT and that they did experience a delay in getting an initial response (probably due to the swelling, bleeding debris from the operation) but that
yes, they DID get the response from the cochlear implant they were looking for!!!! We thanked him profusely and eventually headed back to PACU where our little momo was.
Needless to say, recovery is always a tough time but this time - it was really trying because half of Mary's nausea was not only due to the anesthesia but some vertigo and equilibrium issues with surgery. We also think that when she finally saw the mega cup over her ear, even today, I think that's messing with her self-esteem. We were in recovery seven and a half hours and finally got to go home.
(Mary starting to perk up Post-Op)
Today, Mary is quiet but coming around. She's drinking appropriately and toileting well but I'm still catching her looking at her head whenever she can catch her reflection. So, I put a Cinderella sticker on it. She smiled, and I promised her that we would remove her "band-aid" this afternoon. I also gave her a pedicure. I'm also kissing on her and loving on her and probably bugging the crap out of her but we are so grateful that she's home and recovering nicely! Thank you again - EVERYONE for your prayers, encouragement and continued support! We love you all!!!! Now after I wake up Robert from his nap shift - I'll be next!
Mary One Day Post Op.....you can tell she's still processing everything
George holding the Left Hearing Aid for the very last time!
Mary has done extraordinarily well! I hope that this is the LAST major surgery for her.....ever, really but I pray it is. She's had more surgery in her four years on earth than I have in my.....45! (Wow, did I just SAY that?!?! LOL!) Anyway, her "band-aid" was removed as I promised her and she was scared and crying "Ow, ow, ow" as I was cutting it off. Robert & I truly believe that she believed the bandage became a permanent part of her! I packed some gauze lightly in her ear as she continued to have a small amount of drainage but her spirits just seemed to soar within minutes after removing the big bandage! She was still afraid to look at herself but Robert caught her doing the 'side glance' at herself as they passed a mirror and he asked her if she wanted to see. She nodded 'yes' and Robert said she that when she saw herself without the bandage, she just started pointing to her ear, smiling and rambling off with excitement - I'm sure about her appearance! We got our Mary back at that point!!! And honestly, we were worried. But she's moving full-steam ahead and is back to school this morning. She still experiences some unsteadiness, I'm sure due to where her surgery was in her middle ear and possible fluid accumulating in it. And in true "Momo" fashion, she forgets she's had surgery and plays fast and hard. She's learning to gauge herself and was even excited to go back to school! So the plan for now is that we continue to live life, monitor Mary's progress until her activation day which is June 8th! So here are some updated photos of our sweet baby girl post-surgery, post band-aid, - rockin' towards the future!!!! God is GREAT!
