We got there at 6:30 am and by 8 am they had taken vitals and put Chelsea in a hospital gown. They wheeled her away before 9 am and said they would put her under with a mask, so she wasn't awake for any of her injections.
At the hospital they have a family room where Cheri and I sat watching TV, waiting, scrapbooking. At 11:30 the nurse came in and said they had made the incision. She was right open and the team were making a decision as to whether they would put pins in or how they would correct the problem. We were expecting the nurse to come back soon and update us. She came in the afternoon, just to let us know things were going well, but it wasn't until after 6 pm that we got the page from the Dr.
He showed us the latest x-ray of Chelsea's back where the bottom of her spine is pointed towards her back. He said when they pushed the spine back into place it took a great deal of tension off of her spinal chord and that was the reason she always took short steps and had no flexibility. He said the spinal chord looked like a waterfall where it cascaded over the last bone.
Then they showed us the x-ray with the screws in. The screws and a rod. It is not very big. They packed bone inside of the apparatus. The Dr. told us the operation is successful and the spine is now back where it is supposed to be. The Dr. said she has a birth defect and the bones that are supposed to connect her spine to the last bone toward the pelvis, the ones that are supposed to be at the bottom of the spine, never grew.
If they had been there, they would have put so much stress on the spinal column that she would have been incontinent.
Three to seven days and she is out of the hospital. She can't eat anything yet. The Dr. says she must stay at the hospital and can't eat.
It is 9:30 am and Chelsea has called to see why anyone isn't visiting her. Cheri spent the night in the hospital with her. There is a bed in the room for Cheri. When we visited her last night, Chelsea was like a bug pinned to board, like the bugs mom used to have in south east Asia, Chelsea's eyes rolling in her head, giving us instructions. She knew we were there then, but probably has no memory now.
When I asked Chelsea if she wanted Cheri to read her a book, Chelsea said no, she wanted to sleep.
On other fronts, Cheri is going to feel vindicated, for Andrew tried to sleep with Nathan, but Nathan had to find a different bed last night. So ... still no solution to the problem of Cheri's back from sleeping with Andrew.
Last night, Andrew was trying to find Cheri -- upstairs and downstairs. While the two caregivers, Wyona and Teague slept, Charise and Nathan tried to move Andrew but anytime someone touches him he squeals like a pig. Andrew went upstairs and downstairs, trying to find the bed that Cheri was in. So Nathan hung out on the floor with Sabrina, Gabe and Zach and Andrew had his bed. Teague and Wyona slept through the night while Charise and Nathan orchestrated the night's sleep for Andrew.
Teague also wants everyone to remember that there are other incompetent baby sitters. Once Wyona and Arta were baby sitting and he came home and found Sabrina and Gabe sloshing in the toilet bowl. The kids were in their diapers, with their hands in the toilet. The grandmothers a were in Marcia's kitchen. So babysitting ... well, what does that really mean.
Everyone is staying at Grandma's house, including Gabe and Zach. So today was declared a school holiday by the parents. Chelsea is looking for visitors and has asked that they bring breakfast which at Wyona's is croissants with chicken. Of course, Chelsea can't eat until she has passed gas, so no croissants for her.
Apparently after the operation the medical team touched every part of her body to make sure all of the organs are working. They said they are mean and she can't eat anything until she passes gas and her stomach is growling.
The operation took nine hours. Wyona says Teague and Cheri looked as bad after the 9 hours as Chelsea did.
Thank to everyone for their phone calls and concern.
Wyona made four cheesecakes and is doing cheesecake popsicles if anyone wants to pop in at Chisholm.
If you visit go to the fourth level at the Children's Hospital. Anyone can go who would like to ... they welcome kids, wanting it to be comfortable for the kids who are in there and to get them feeling normal as soon as possible.
Teague and Cheri
Thank you for the update Teague. I asked you to email me one but here it is, so ignore my email. I am so glad that despite the long hours of waiting everything has been successful so far. Keep us updated on how her recovery is going and who Andrew sleeps with next.
ReplyDeleteI slipped in to see Chelsea tonight at 5 pm. She was sleeping with the help of morphine. This afternoon the nurses came in and tried to have her stand up, but she could only get up to a sitting position, so they were going to try to get her on her feet tonight ... with the help of her little morphine pump button which is close to her hand.
ReplyDeleteCindy, Cindy's daughter, Teague, and Cheri's old university friend (Ingred) were there. As well, Alicia had been there all afternoon. People were chatting, Teague was lightly strumming his guitar, but Chelsea was in a deep sleep and didn't hear what was going on around her.
Cheri stayed behind at the hospital for the night. The rest of the family was soon leaving so that they could all see "Hello Dolly" tonight.
Chelsea will be in the hospital until at least Sunday, but maybe four days after that, depending on how quick her recover is. Cheri is staying behind in Calgary.
Cheri's mom is coming up to Medicine Hat to take care of the rest of the family who are going home with Teague on Sunday.
When I left Chisholm Wyona was home with Sabrina, Gabe, Zach, Audra and Andrew. Audra was trying to get Andrew to pay attention to her -- to get him to hold her. He sat on the floor watching TV. She stood in front of him and he would move to the left or to the right to improve his view of the TV. Totally ignoring her. She would stand at his back, and since he was on his haunches, she would put her feet right on top of his, or touch his shoulder or even hang her arm over his neck. He just ignored her. Wyona said he is not used to giving attention to someone else. Only getting it. He ignored her other attempts to get him to pull her onto his lap, as Gabe would have pulled on her if he had been in that same position.
Pretty cute. Wyona and I laughed for a long time over watching them.
Re who Andrew will sleep with tonight? I think at 8:30 pm the dragon Grandmother will make them all lay down on the mats and go to sleep before the parents get home from "Hello Dolly". Andrew is not really going to like that, but I can't imagine that Wyona is going to give any of them much choice. Even Andrew.
Arta