Amanda - surgery [take 6]

S T A R

P A T I E N T

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M Y

G I R L

Back in November 2010, Amanda complained that her wrist was hurting her to the point that she was literally no longer bending it. We had fracture ruled out, and thus she was placed in an immobilizing splint, of which she was in until she finally had corrective surgery on Feb 2, 2011. The orthopedic doctor did an MRI and found that bones in Amanda's wrist (the same wrist she broke 3 years ago) were hitting each other and that a ligament was torn. Result - trip to the operating room (ahem for the 6th time...we'll be finished now with surgery, please?)

Amanda's surgery was scheduled for 8 a.m. Tues, Feb. 2, at a surgery center. She had had nothing to eat or drink since 11 pm the night before, was prepped with IV in and just waiting for anesthesia to come speak with us before being rolled in for surgery. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned, and this mom seriously was upset with tears because I felt so bad for my girl to have the surgery canceled. Why was it canceled? because my sister had a disease called malignant hyperthermia (you can read about it HERE). This is a very serious condition, and though the mom in me was upset because the surgery had been cancelled, I knew the risk could be high. So, surgery (thankfully) was rescheduled for that same day (4 pm arrival; 6 pm surgery). We left the surgery center and what do you think my daughter did? told me she wanted to go to school since she had tests to take! With nothing to eat or drink since the night before, she headed off to school (oh my).

Larry and I picked Amanda up from school at 3:15, then picked up my daddy, and headed to the hospital (Scottsdale Shea). She was registered and then taken to preop. She fell in love with the "heater" they gave her. It was this vacuum-looking tube that they hooked up right to her hospital gown and she had a control knob that controlled how much warm air was pumped into the gown to keep her warm (she wanted one of these contraptions for home!!). After prep was complete, I asked her what she would like to eat when she goes home; her food order, and I quote, "spicy chicken sandwich, french fries, and a medium dr. pepper (her usual from McD), a junior bacon cheeseburger (from Wendy's), and a footlong sub (from Subway) - footlong so I will have half to take to lunch tomorrow. Seriously, I looked at her and laughed and told her there was NO way she would eat all of that food! She told me, "I missed three meals today, so that is my three meals all at once." Ok, sure. Then she asked me, "what do you think I will dream about during surgery?" I joked and said, "You will dream about you and __C.B.___ (name is left out here purposely so as not to embarrass her) getting married." She said, "MOM!" Guess what she dreamed about!?! The doctor came out and spoke with my daddy, Larry, and me, and said the surgery was successful! There was inflammation in there, plus the abutment of bone, and the torn ligament. He corrected the problem, and my girl was on the mend. Then the waiting for her to wake up from anesthesia began....the long wait; the excruciatingly L O N G wait. Seriously, we were the last family waiting in the waiting room, even the hospital volunteer had gone home. When Amanda goes under anesthesia, well, let's just say she likes to sleep!! Finally, we left the hospital around 9 pm. Her grandpa sat in the backseat with her and held her on the way home.

And, yep she got her order of food that was listed above!!! And, well, she did dream exactly what I told her she would (she told me I jinxed her dream!) and she was on cloud 9 about the dream! :)

When we got home, she took one pain pill and headed to bed.

The next morning, she was up bright and early and ready to go to school. Really? Yes! She went to school the day after surgery. Needless to say, everyone was shocked to see her at school, including the teachers (except her friend, Natasha, who just knew Amanda would come to school the day after surgery). I am thankful for the friendships she has at school, as everyone was concerned for her, including her friend, Jacob, who even helped her with her backpack. A close-knit group of friends, indeed.

I waited all day for the call to "come get me mom" but she never called, and though she was hurting when I picked her up from school, she did it! She made it through school the day after surgery, albeit in a daze and doesn't have much recollection of what went on. Rest of the school week - she was there! And so perfect attendance rolls on. Oh yea, and the search is on for her hook that they gave her in surgery (according to Coach Miller, they should just cut off her arm and give her a hook). Yes, I am really searching for the hook, and yes, Coach Miller will be presented with this lovely gift.

Amanda did great the week after surgery, and we went for her postop follow-up appt. The stitches came out, a new splint was put on, and she will do one session of physical therapy, and the healing truly begins.

Despite all the setbacks the day of surgery, despite the pain she endured going back to school the day after surgery, my Amanda is one tough little trooper and once again never ceases to amaze me! She is truly a blessing to my life.

*can we get the show

on the road, please?

*ready to ditch this

{stinky} thing for good

*the heater!!


*nutrition?

*the don't-give-me-lidocaine IV
{see Cuddles snuggled with her? same bunny
she has had since she was 2 and has gone
through every surgery and procedure with her}

......surgery is through, and now onto postop appt

*mixed emotions - glad to have surgical dressings

removed, but sad to see freinds signatures get distorted when

removed.

*almost there...

*yea, my wrist is free of surgical

dressings!!

*the battle wounds take 1

(doesn't look too bad)

*close-up

*on the final stretch to recovery!