August 30, 2010. This surgery was supposed to take about 6 hours, but luckily it was only a little more than 2 hours! Kyle had just started the paramedic program and it's really difficult to miss a day, my mom had to get the kids off to school, and than she would meet me in the waiting room, Kyle's mom had to work, and everyone else either had work or school. So we were doing this on our own!
They had us come in a couple hours before the surgery was scheduled, to get checked in and get him weighed and such. We got to the room and I sat him on my lap so the nurse could take his vitals. It wasn't until I moved him when I realized he had leaked through his diaper and left his doo doo all over my jeans. :) What a sweetheart. After I got that taken care of, we set him on the table and changed him into his little hospital gown so he would be ready for the doctors. As I picked him up, he thought it would be a good idea to puke all over me. So that was fun as well!
The nurse took us to the pre-surgery room, where all the families and patients wait until it was their turn to go to the O.R. That's always a scary room ... but comforting at the same time. No matter what, there is always someone else with a more difficult situation who makes you feel like you aren't so picked on. It was hard to keep back the tears in this room, especially after the anesthesia doc came and talked to me. I already knew what was going to happen, but it was extra hard hearing it. Finally Dr. Morales came and talked to me, again explaining what they were going to do and what all the plans were. One thing that was especially hard for me to cope with was when he said that they will do what they can to help with his pain, but he can't get rid of ALL of it. That broke my heart. I felt like a bad mom, like I was making him go through this pain and traumatic experience just because I thought his face looked different. I thought, if he was older, he wouldn't care and would choose to just have the face he had, than to have to go into surgery. If we had to wait much longer, I probably would have just left!
When they are ready for the patient, they call the name, and one of the nurses walks the parents/patients to the doors of the O.R. This is where we take our separate ways. I'm putting the life of my 5 month old in the hands of someone I bearly know, and when I see him next he will look like a totally different baby. I wish so bad I could just stay by his side and hold his hand the whole surgery. But of course, I don't think that wouldn't go over so well. :) I would probably hurt some people. I learned you just have to do this like a bandaid. Just hand him over, turn around, walk down the hallway and into the waiting area. Throughout the surgery, I had to keep myself busy every second. If I stopped to think about what was happening, I would loose it.
About an hour and a half later, Kyle calls and tells me he is on his way over! They were doing introductions in class, and when it was his turn he mentioned Rocky's situation and that he was in surgery right then. His teacher stopped him and said ".... See ya." So off he went! I was so relieved. My mom was also on her way, so it worked out well. They just met half way and drove up together. Right after that phone call, I was informed that Rocky was doing fantastic, and Dr. Morales would be out to talk to me in about 20 minutes! Woohoo :) Well, everyone knows what "20" minutes mean in any medical term .... An hour later, he shows up. Luckily Kyle was there as he went over the surgery, explained what to expect, everything went great, etc.
Only one of the parents is allowed back in the Post-op. It is just a big open room with all the other patients. He was crying in the nurse's arms when I first walked in. I couldn't believe how good he looked! Besides the swollen face and visible stitches, he was one handsome, completely new little boy. As I held him in my arms, I couldn't hold back the tears. I wanted to squeeze him next to me and let him know that I was here and everything was going to be alright. That was near impossible though, with all the chords and tubes attached to him, and the "bow" over his mouth. We stayed there while the nurse checked with the doctor and made sure it was ok for him to go to his own room. She had to call him, take his vitals, and than call the nurse down in the patient rooms to check in with her and give her all the information she needed to take care of him.
We finally were able to leave that room, into a more private, cozy one of his own. Kyle and my mom were excited to see him, and also couldn't believe how awesome he looked. He had trouble eating at first, so he and I ended up staying that night, but left that following evening. Once he was home, he started eating and sleeping much better.
Enjoy the pictures!
Waiting in the Pre surgery room
They send you home with these tubes in the nose and tell you to figure out a way to keep them in ... this is what we came up with!
