Surgery 9: Happy Mother's Day

With Dr. 0 & Dr. Waner : Top left Summer 2014 (6 years) , Lower left 2016 (8 years), Right May 2019 (11 years)

This morning I woke up from the best nights sleep I've had in weeks. Checked a phone full of sweet Mother's Day wishes (one from around the globe, that around the globe part always gets me💗). Walked to a breakfast table full of treasures; kids, flowers, donuts and Dave. What can I say, I'm riding a euphoric high that only comes after a huge dreaded event has passed and intensified by the coincidental timing of Mother's Day.  

She insisted we find her heart and touch it for luck before surgery

Surgery

Ten years ago a doctor told us that after the age of 9 surgery becomes harder for kids and this surgery definitely proved his point. This was considered an "easy" procedure on all accounts by her doctors, but not for Josie. She has been nervous for this surgery since we came home from New York in March. What she remembers most from her prior surgery (in 2017) was 1. how sick she was after and 2. how much she hated the mask (used for anesthesia). Unfortunately for Josie she takes after her mom and gets sick from anesthesia, EVERY time. The longer the surgery the more severe the sickness. 

Enter Dr. Gingrich

The last "easy" out-patient surgery Josie had was in 2014 and that was when we first met the memorable Dr. Gingrich (and again the day after when we encountered a bump in the road). He was the best anesthesia experience we've ever had...up until 3 days ago when we met again. 

During our pre-op check-in I mentioned to the nurse Josie's anxiety and asked if there was anything (not involving a needle) that they could give her to relax. It was during this process that we learned we were going to be in Dr. Gingrich's care. I have never felt so happy or relieved to see someone and these two pictures show exactly how Josie felt.... 

Picture taken before she talked to Dr. Gingrich, fake smile and stomach ache

Snap/Photo taken after Dr. Gingrich talked with her...
 her body language totally changed and a real smile!

Dr. Gingrich patiently talked (and joked) with Josie for quite awhile learning about what her fears were with anesthesia. Then he explained the options to her and ultimately the one he thought would work best for her (but she was fearful of) is the one she picked. No smelly mask, just some numbing cream and a cold spray and all her anesthesia was administered through an IV. I watched her face as they started the IV, she winced before the needle ever touched her and then after it broke skin she shrugged her eyebrows as if to say "didn't even hurt". As we walked to the operating room Josie leaned over and whispered "Mom, don't let me wake up and be mean to him (Gingrich)" 😁.

Surgery was just under 3 hours, short in comparison to her others and everything went as expected (which never happens). The cherry on top? Zero sickness. I can't tell you how excited we both were to win that battle!! She has already declared that she will never choose the mask again😄.

What was done?

First, I have to disclose that I've really struggled with where to draw the line in what I share as Josie has grown older. She isn't a little girl anymore and I don't want this to be something she resents as she grows. On the other hand I want this platform to be real and raw and more than just "hey, we survived another surgery". There is so much beauty, lessons and even humor at times in the journey and I want us both to remember that. With that said, I give you these Josie approved photos....

Before Surgery: The last picture of "2-tongue"

After: a large section of excess growth was removed from her tongue and a section of her lower lip was nipped & tucked

Her lower lip and inner left cheek were debulked (you can see the dissolvable sutures on the inner lip) 

Other than being swollen, hungry for all the things she can't eat, and talking a little funny Josie is doing awesome. She'll be home from school for the next week but will get to finish the last two weeks of 5th grade and elementary with her friends. We're so thankful for that.

Next

Bony work happens this summer but we're still waiting for the date to be confirmed. With multiple doctors/clinics involved = it's harder to tack down dates. What we do know is that it will be a half day surgery as well as a hospital stay and we'll have to be in the city for 2 weeks. The silver-lining? We're likely getting a 2+ year break from surgeries after this.