Surgery. Done. It went really good.
My 5-year-old had his surgery on April 22 and is recovering at HCMC Burn Center. He’s doing great – he’s in a lot of pain if the ibuprofen or acedimedifin wears off (so we don’t let it wear off) and he’s really pissed off. No, that’s too strong. I think he’s extremely bummed out about his situation. I’m more the one who is pissed off. The accident is so regrettable.
The surgery on Thursday ended up taking twice as long as they said it would and my wife and I became anxious and started hyper-ventilating a little in the waiting room, trying not to think about what might be going wrong. I hate waiting rooms.
I would say, “Well, they have to do toes and that can’t be easy. I bet they’re just getting it done right and taking their time.”
Turns out that was true – the doctors said after surgery that it went excellent and they did all the stitches by hand (instead of using staples). But what we didn’t know in the waiting room was that after they started they determined BOTH feet needed grafts, not just one. Which meant they also had to harvest more skin from his scalp. And it just took more time.
But it went really really good.
There was a computer in the waiting room that displayed info on each patient having surgery that day – like if they were being admitted, or in the operating room, or in the recovery room. It was a useful feature, but I had to stop myself from checking it every 5 minutes. There was a big sign hanging from the monitor: “This is not a TV. This computer does not have internet access.” That cracked me up, thinking about what some people must have done to warrant a sign like that. Comic relief helped a little with my anxiety.
It was really tough seeing my 5-year-old in so much pain. But he did eventually calm down enough to sleep, and watch a movie, and sleep, and build the Lego Star Wars X-Wing Fighter we brought. It’s his second Lego Star Wars Fighter he’s had to build since the accident – this one is his cousin’s, on loan, which is cool.
He finished the X-Wing this morning and I took a picture of it (above). Legos continue to be the ultimate pain killer with him. We’re bringing more Legos for him to do for tonight’s stay.
I took another picture of him holding the X-Wing (TOTALLY SMILING HUGE!!) to send to his mom and grandma. But he told me he didn’t want anyone else to see it, not even his cousin. He knows he’s in rough shape, which breaks my heart. I’m sure he “feels” that people notice his condition and look at him wondering what happened. I do that when I look at other patients here, even if I try not to. And people will notice more now that his head is completely covered in bandages. We brought a hat for him, but not sure when he’ll be able to wear it. Also hoping my new hairstyle will help once the bandages come off. We shall see.
More things I have noticed: (In no particular order)
+ When a nurse needs to attach the oxygen levels monitor clamp thingy to my 5-year-old’s finger, she or he will often ask which finger he wants to use. My son consistently offers up his middle finger. Cracks me up every time.
+ As much as this totally sucks, it could have been much much worse. The boiling water spilled about 8 inches away from my 2-year-old’s face.
+ Had a request for root beer last night, but all of the vending machines nearby the Burn Center are stocked primarily with caffeinated beverages: Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, and more Mountain Dew. Which makes sense considering HCMC never sleeps. I walked all the way to the cafeteria vending machines where I scored an Orange Crush! That got big smiles back at the room.
+ I could never do the job that these nurses and doctors and surgeons do. I couldn’t deal with the acute sights and sounds of people in pain. And do they ever see these patients when they are healed, not in pain, and happier? I hope so.
+ Confirmed: I eat when I’m stressed out. I’m actually okay with that.
+ The HCMC guest wireless DOES NOT block skype, which is nice. They do continue to block Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, and YouTube. If HCMC wanted to offer a way for patients to better pass the time they would allow access to those sites. The HCMC Welcome Info Sheet (PDF) on patient services made me laugh (“fail” bolding mine):
Wireless Guest Access is available for people using laptops and other devices in the medical center complex. The open wireless network offers the same type of Internet access now available in many coffee shops, hotels, and airports.
+ I am now realizing that the kids with head bandages here in the Burn Center very likely have had skin harvested from their scalp. Originally, I had thought the bandages were for burns on their heads.
+ Oatmeal should never be served at a hospital.
[Read the next post from The Accident: April 24, 2010: The Dome Out the Window]