Healing update

Last week, we had to send pictures to the doctor so that he could check her healing progress.  We are so happy with the way Addi's leg is healing!  It looks so good.  Dr. Siddiqi agrees.

The leg reveal

But first, the story:

For the week since surgery, we have been talking to Addi about the day that her leg out be unwrapped and her drain would come out. We really wanted to prepare her, and try to keep her calm. So, she went in really excited, and kept telling us that she wasn't going to cry. The assistant, Lindsay, carefully took off Addi's brace, then the ace bandage, and got her to this point. So far so good.

She cut away the gauze dressing, and soaked the bloody parts with water so that it was easier to get off. Still, no tears, although Addi was watching with unwavering attention to what was happening.

Finally, the bandage was off! The bandage got caught on a stitch up by her knee, which caused Addi to start crying, but she wasn't inconsolable, and as soon as the bandage was completely off, we read a book and she calmed right down.

The resident surgeon came in and looked at Addi's leg. I think he was a little concerned, he kept saying we wouldn't know if it took for a couple of more weeks, but he thought it was still ok. We have seen this before - it's supposed to look like that. And, finally, when Dr. Siddiqi came in, he said the same thing.

While we were waiting for Dr, Siddiqi to come in, Addi looked at Lindsay and said, "I'm just wondering if I can walk now." Lindsay told her she wasn't sure, but she could ask Dr. Siddiqi. So, Addi did. As soon as Dr. Siddiqi came in, Addi looked at him, and after a tiny bit of coaching from Lindsay (she asked Addi what she wanted to ask Dr. Siddiqi), Addi said, "Can I walk?" And he said that she could!

Addi cried when we took the bandage off of the drain tube, but it was really stuck on there, I would have cried too, but when we told her that the drain was out, she immediately stopped.

We wrapped her leg back up, and were on our way. Now, bandage changes at home everyday for at least the next two weeks. And we are done until March!



 
And now the pictures:
 

Grafting...again

Addi had a grafting surgery, the ending of a very long round of tissue expanders. We have been doing her expansions under sedation, as I believe that I have mentioned before, so this was her 19th sedation, and we were definately ready for it to be over.

Last week, due to the projected "blizzard" in the valley, I chose to cancel the expansion, so she was one short of what she could have had, but still had quite a big bubble on her back. So we were scheduled for surgery at 1:45, but the room was running behind, and even Dr. Siddiqi was waiting. Addi finally got her versed about 2:45, and was really feeling it after being without food or water for so long. That's a good thing, by the way - I wish they sold versed at the pharmacy: amazing!

So, when they were ready for her, the "barking" anesthesologist came out to get her. No lie - he barks at the kids. We have had him before, and I was a little put off by him, but this time, he was great! And, when he barked, Addi barked back so they were fast friends.

Our good friend, Mary Ann, who is the child-life specialist, made sure that she was paged when Addi got there, and checked on her several times during our wait to make sure Addi was being entertained. Addi absolutely loves her! She hung out about the time that Addi would be going back to the OR and again went in to the room with her. Addi didn't even cry. She was so calm, and we could hear her laughing and playing as we walked away from her. That was a very reassuring sound!

Addi was scheduled for about 90 minutes in the OR, and we were waiting for the report from the doctor. It didn't come. After 2 1/2 hours, Will asked the waiting room ladies to call and check to see what was going on. It was just taking longer than they had planned, nothing was wrong, and we were told it would be about 15 more minutes. Thirty minutes later, Dr. Siddiqi came out. He was excited about the amount of skin that he was able to get. The Nevus is completely gone from her leg, he was able to do some without a graft, and used the skin from her back on the top and bottom parts of her leg.

We have had many people ask how many more surgeries Addi will need. The answer has always been, "not sure". So, I asked. We are looking at two more rounds, with her sedated fills, that is 10 or 11 more sedations. Totally doable!

So, Dr. Siddiqi sent us home, and Addi is sleeping comfortably in my bed.

Poor Will, he gets the couch.