Surgery Day

This morning Miah had a bone graft at BC Children's Hospital.  She was scheduled at 10:30 and they even got her in a little early.  The oral surgeon had three surgeries booked for today...all three were young girls having their bone graft surgeries.  This was one of  the reasons we chose this particular surgeon...he apparently does these procedures all the time. On the way to the hospital Miah kept telling us her new stuffed Squirrel was scared.  We kept reassuring the squirrel that God would be with him the whole time and Miah did her best to reassure him that he would be ok. Miah never admitted to being scared though...

Our pre op procedures were a little different than we were used to.  There was no meeting with the anesthetist prior to surgery day and she was allowed to drink clear fluids up to 3 hours before her surgery time. Having a drink when she woke up made the morning a little more bearable.  We only had to check in one hour before surgery time and they had a great play area set up in the surgical waiting room.  We were allowed to all come into this area as a family and wait with her.  Parents are allowed into the OR with their children if they choose...I didn't have to even ask. I was able to gown up (Miah said I looked even more funny than last time in my fancy blue hat), and walk her into the OR. I lifted her onto the table and within 2-3 minutes they had her IV in and she was asleep. They didn't even make her wear that hat she hates so much!

Her surgery took 2.5 hours and I was able to wait in the parents waiting area right outside the OR while Drew and Mackenzie toured the aquarium for a change of scenery. When the surgery was finished, the Dr. came to speak to me in the waiting area and sat down with me, going over all the post op instructions...a very long list of do's and don'ts....some of which include:

• Clear fluids for the first few days, then we can move to pureed food once she is able to brush her teeth well. He said this transition could be as soon as Miah can tolerate a good brushing after every meal. Soft mushy foods for at least three weeks and then on week four we can try some softer pieces that she can chew with her back teeth. He said it would be at least five weeks before she can bite into something like a sandwich with her front teeth and even longer for foods such as a raw carrot stick.
• No bathing for 1 week, then on week 2 she can start having showers...then on week 3 she can have a bath.
• Rinsing her mouth with salt water...up to 20 times a day. Brushing as soon as possible three times a day.
• She is on antibiotics for 10 days and medication for pain.
• Icing her face a few times per day to help with the swelling

I was able to sit with her in recovery. She never did wake up until we got transferred to her room.  Her pain was pretty well managed the first day with Tylenol and Morphine. She never complained about any face pain, only pain in her hip.

Grandma and Grandpa came by later in the afternoon as well as the Epps. Miah loved having some familiar faces come to visit. She was a little drowsy, but enjoyed the gifts she received.

Her face started to swell about 8 hours post op. The surgeon said that this would continue and that Monday (Third day after surgery) we would see the worst of it...after that, it should start to get better. She says that her "Cleft feels funny."  I am assuming that it is the swelling that feels different...or perhaps the stitches are bugging her.