After the excitement of finding out today, Brian and I looked at each other and said, "Wait a minute. Why are we so excited about our baby having her head cut open?" This is a BIG DEAL and we covet your prayers.
We're heading to the hospital tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. and the surgery is scheduled for 7:30. Dr. Van Aalst is the craniofacial surgeon and Dr. Perry is the pediatric neurosurgeon. The surgery should last 4-5 hours. My mom will be home with Mya and Owen and Brian's parents will wait it out with us at the hospital.
Here is a general description of the surgery tomorrow (from a pamphlet about craniosynostosis)
The surgical technique for correcting the problem varies with the
type of craniosynostosis, but all have certain things in common.
Surgery is only considered for these children after a pediatrician,
trained in this field, certifies the child can tolerate the anesthesia
and the operation. One of the greatest risks to the child comes from
the general anesthetic. It is necessary for an anesthesiologist, well
experienced in this type of surgery in young children, to be present
during the entire procedure. The surgery is usually performed by two
specialists working together. One is a craniofacial surgeon and the
other is a pediatric neurosurgeon. The craniofacial surgeon is a
plastic surgeon who has received additional training in pediatric
craniofacial surgery. It is common for an incision to be made in the
hair from one ear to the other ear, across the top of the head. This is
usually the only scar from surgery. The hair usually hides the scar.
After this incision is made, the neurosurgeon removes the affected
areas of the skull and forehead. The craniofacial surgeon reshapes
these bones and returns them to a normal position. Once the
procedure is finished, the incision is closed usually with dissolving
sutures. The child is then taken to the pediatric intensive care unit.
The routine is different among the various centers. Children
typically spend the first night or two in the intensive care unit. They
then go to the regular pediatric floor. Children are normally sent
home on the third to fifth day following surgery. Generally, children
experience only minor discomfort from this operation. There is little
pain from the cutting of skull bone. By the second day after surgery,
most children need nothing more than Tylenol. It is also common for
both eyes to swell shut for about three days after surgery. Not being
able to open one’s eyes annoys the child the most. After the child is
discharged from the hospital, the family may be asked to stay in the
area for another few days before returning home. This allows the
treating doctors to make sure there is a good chance that there will
be no major complications. Between six weeks to three months after
surgery, the child returns for follow-up visits. The surgeon usually
sees the child once a year thereafter.
Here are some specific ways you can pray for Amelia tomorrow (these are cut and pasted from last time):
--That Amelia will respond well to the anesthesia.
--That the surgeons will use great skill and be completely focused on Amelia during the various stages of the surgery and that there would be no unexpected complications.
--That her body would respond well to the surgery and begin the healing process immediately.
--That the pain medications would work appropriately.
--That as she begins to wake up from the surgery she would not feel panicked or afraid, but that the Holy Spirit would envelop her and cradle her, especially when we can't.
--That when her eyes are swollen shut in the days that follow that she would be comforted by our voices, our touch, and our scents.
--That we would experience the comfort and presence of Jesus throughout all of this.
Lastly, Amelia has been experiencing a lot of "stranger anxiety" recently and today she was very skeptical and downright afraid of the doctors and nurses at the hospital during the pre-op. Pray for peace within her little being and comfort from her parents but also from Jesus himself. Also pray for her parents not to be traumatized by letting her go into the O.R. if she is upset about it.
Thanks for reading, praying and loving our family through this!
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