The "Medical Momma Toolkit" continues with a guest post from my sweet friend, Sharon Ankerich . Our families travelled to China together on adoption trips back in 2011, and I've been holding on hard to her friendship ever since. Sharon is a mentor to many because of the way she lives her life and the love she gives. Sharon is the mom of nine and grandmother to a precious baby grandson. Her love flows, grows and is a joy to watch. She has a big heart for adoption, and a love of photography, blogging and homeschooling. Plus, she consistently wins the award for best family photos.
She blogs about her homeschooling at Growing Whole Hearts and about the everyday beauty of big family life at Everything Beautiful. Her posts must be followed, because when she shares, we all learn something.
Sharon is a mentor medical momma. Her children have/had several medical needs, and is no stranger to surgeries, therapies, meds and specialists.
Today she shares an account of her son's recent day surgery, and provides some tips along the way.
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Today our son was scheduled for day surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids. He has suffered many rounds of tonsillitis and strep requiring lots trips to the doctor and medications. He also suffers from asthma and snores like a beast. Payne his twin brother who shares a room says- 'I not can even turn him over when him wakes me up with snoring'. So he needs this surgery just as much as Will. Ha!
1. DO Listen to Your Instincts ~
He wasn't a cut and dry case. We had visited our pediatrician many times with same symptoms, but would always fall right below criteria for further inquiry. I was always understanding and acknowledged their expertise for documentation and timing.
One day, Will came down with a very high fever, and I mean like 105.7 (Most of my kids run super high fevers, so I didn't freak.), but all the same, he needed to be seen. I called and they brought us in. Diagnosis was tonsillitis and ear infection, and this time I Pressed.
Pediatrician once again reminded me we were under the requirements for an ENT visit, but I wasn't going home without a referral. Sometimes it takes persistence of the momma bear to get the attention needed. Reluctantly, we were given go ahead for ENT, and I made the appointment.
Fast forward to this appointment and when the doctor looked in his mouth... you should have seen his eyes!
Yep! I KNEW it!
On a scale from 1-4, with 4 being huge tonsils, his was a 4+!!! I remembered back being told this doctor was extremely conservative so not to be surprised if he agreed with them. Okay, I went with an open mind, but I just knew in my gut what the outcome would be. Surgery was scheduled and my boy would get a chance for better health and sleep!
Here we are at the hospital. We were to be here @ 9:30 with surgery at 11:30. That is never a given. Back to a room in plenty of time, but are told surgery is not until 12:30, and we continue to wait. That time passed and finally he was taken back at 1:30. Two hours late, but all is well.
2. DO Prepare Your Child Carefully~
In our family, we have found less knowledge of procedures is usually better. Will did hear what the doctor said at his appointment, but didn't really understand what it meant for him. In our minds, there was no reason to inform Will of all the details relating to his upcoming procedure. Why give him worry when it was so far away? The girls did enlighten him unbeknownst to us and fear was sparked. Now was the time to help him deal, because even our best thought plans sometimes backfire.
In very simple terms, we explained where we would go and what he would experience comparing it to other procedures someone in our family had undergone. At just the right moment, his sister piped up to tell him he would probably score a really big prize since surgery was involved. We assured him absolutely that would be the case. He bravely announced he wanted the Ninja Turtle Shellraiser. Hmmm... Guess what?
At Christmas I spent lots of time choosing the three gifts each child would receive, and when it came to get everything wrapped, Will's pile was a little bigger than the others. I just happened to have bought that exact Shellraiser and had put it aside for maybe his birthday. Who knew? God did and this accidental gift would become the comfort he would need for surgery day.
3. DO Shift Focus to Something Other than Surgery~
This morning when he woke up super early for a two hour ride to Children's, that Shellraiser was the bomb! His face lit up like it was Christmas and his arms were full the whole ride. My HEART was full because all was right in his world. My little buddy, once full of fear, was a brave little Ninja Turtle totally ready for his big day. Oh, and his brother is right beside him as well. They have cheered each other on through thick and thin from the day Payne came home.
As Day Surgery Comes to an End~
I'm sitting in his room right now as they have just rolled him away. All I can do is write this post and pray over him because I've done my part in my momma strength. I've fought for an appointment and surgery. I've gotten him to the hospital with his prize toy. I've relinquished him to super capable hands. I've watched him wheel away with arms wrapped around his Ninja Turtle Shellraiser. I KNOW it was all right and pray for healing and recovery, knowing full well that's not a given either. Nothing in this life is.
I just saw the doctor walk by this room talking on his phone and my heart leaps into my chest. I know my child lies in recovery facing many days of pain and recovery. Hurry up! I need to hear. I think he's stepping in.
First and most coveted words out of a doctor's mouth, "He made it through fine." Praise!
Next words, "His tonsils were a MONSTER!" Yep! Told ya!!!
After a bunch of stuff I may have heard and will process later, the doctor left and I sat alone in the dark while tears of relief flowed. Fears released, after so much strength required, had waited for just the right time. Scott and Payne walked around the corner from lunch and I put them at ease. He's fine.
He just rolled back into the room from recovery and is our Super Will with the high pain tolerance. They told us we would be here 4-6 hours until he had had something to drink. I knew he would drink in the first five minutes, and he did. He actually woofed down a popsicle and a juice box sitting up watching TV! Nurses keep coming by commenting how well he is doing.
I'm thankful for that, but I also know it's all a façade. He isn't doing well. He's just dealing with this, another major hurt he has to endure. Only this time, he has his momma and daddy right by him. And I mean my chair is touching his bed and I'm leaned over the rail loving him big. Helping him know it's okay to say he hurts and be moody. It's well deserved in SO many ways. Pitch a fit sweet boy! Momma's got your little Ninja Turtle self today and forever!!!
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This is post four in a the series, "Medical Momma Toolkit: A Tips, Tricks and Encouragement Series."
Courage, dear hearts. I hope you have been encouraged.
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