Abby is out of surgery and doing well. She came right back to her regular hospital room, which after two weeks feels a little like home to us. I'm glad she's here where she's most comfortable. She's in quite a bit of pain, although the morphine is doing it's job fairly well. The doctor was able to straighten out the small bowel, remove her appendix, do the NISSEN, and g-tube. She didn't need a hernia repair. He took a look all around and everything looked pretty good.
Her small intestines were of course on the right side of her body. Her liver and gall bladder were shifted to the left. This is probably because of scoliosis. The curve in her spine that contributed to the crimping in the intestines is moving her organs around a bit. There is nothing that needs to be done about that surgically, but as Emily would say: Ewww.
As one might expect, we didn't get much sleep last night. This morning was a tearful one for me. Whenever anyone sees a mother crying as her child goes off to surgery, they expect that mama is worried about the procedure. I wasn't. I knew it was only a few hours and I couldn't control anything that went on in that room. It's a time for complete faith.
I am just broken hearted over that darn G-tube. I know in my head it's not a big deal. Emily has one, I deal with it everyday. I've just worked so hard over so many years feeding Abby. Our days are filled with "did she eat enough?" or "she's got to drink more!" I should feel relieved to have some help with all of that, but all I feel is sad. It's a loss of yet another part of her. It felt normal and right to feed her. As frustrating as it was sometimes, it's hard to let go. I know I can still feed her by mouth, and I will if she will, but the tube. The dreaded tube is there.
She's kind of fussy, so I'll go and cuddle away some of the pain. I am ever grateful for the goodness of the Lord and his provision for my daughter. I'm sure he'll carry me quickly through any lingering doubts I have about the choice we've made today.
Abby has a week or so of recovery ahead of us in the hospital and then we begin to recover at home, so please continue to pray for her as you think of her.
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I am thankful the surgery went well, but I understand your feelings about the g-tube. I have walked the steps of that journey. Tim did not get his g-tube until he was 15 and scheduling the surgery was like admitting MY failure. Even though it took 45 minutes to feed him each meal, and the food all had to be blended, and frequently the reflux caused it to all come back up so we had to start over, I saw it as a failure. It was a big emotional step.
ReplyDeleteIn hindsight, he is so much happier now... and I am more relaxed. Food was never fun, social or enjoyable for Tim - it was work. Very, very hard work. From his perspective, he is no longer irritated by that annoying chewing, swallowing, reflux, etc. and can be his happy self.
I know. That's all easy for me to sit here and say four years later. Today, I grieve with you for this little piece of what is supposed to be normal that has left Abby's world.
You remain in our prayers.
Blessings,
Kathi
Checking in see how you and Abby are doing...so much to rejoice over and somethings to mourn and adjust too.
ReplyDeletePraying that God will continue to hold you in His great big hands!