Surgery # 7

I've both dreaded and anticipated this day. I know the benefits it can give him, it's the "what if's" that scare me. What if it leaks? What if I don't recognize the signs of Baclofen withdrawal soon enough? What if the pump is uncomfortable? Let alone what if he can't come off the vent in recovery? What if we can't get his pain under control? Well we decided the benefits outweighed the risks and we find ourselves in the holding room awaiting surgery # 7. After 2 hours and 20 minutes, the same 100 questions from a handful of people and a signed consent form, they came for him. Dr. Deshpande, the anesthiologist, carried him back to the O.R. That's the 1st time they've ever carried him back. Usually they wheel him back in the bed. I thought it was sweet that the head doc was the one to carry him. I told Lane what I tell him every time he goes for surgery. It's from a Carl Sandburg poem, and it just seems to fit him so perfectly. "The fireborn are at home in the fire". Lane has walked through the fires of Hell since he was born but always holding onto the hand of God. We are all stronger for this trial. I thank God every day for the faith I've gained during our journey.

After our Taco Bell/Pizza Hut routine we headed back to the 3rd floor to wait. At 2:10 Dr. Pearson was standing over us saying he was done, how easy it was and how well Lane was doing. I couldn't believe it was over that quickly. I'm used to 5 + hour surgeries. This one was only 1 hour and 20 minutes and that included the time it took to get him to sleep. We went back to recovery and he looked great. Good color, no swelling to speak of, sating in the 90's -100 with only a little blow by, pain under control and a wonderful nurse with red hair named Sarah. It wasn't long before we were in the elevator headed to the 7th floor. Our home for the night. He did well through the whole night. BP issues but when do we not have those? He was knocked out for most of the night. I never thought I'd see Lane Carter's arms as loose as they were that night. If this is result, then I'd say we did the right thing.
Fast forward to Saturday morning (and yes I've written these WAY later than they occured, the trial was June 1st and surgery was June 19). At 8:30 our nurse comes in to say she has discharge papers. That's just great except that Lane is just zonked, he responds to people messing with him but goes right back to sleep. That's not like him so we chose to hang out a little longer. By 11:30 he'd stayed awake for about 20 min. straight and given the face that his vital signs were fine we decided to leave. He basically slept for the next 2 days. I was very concerned that he'd always be like this but as they say "this too shall pass". By Monday he was more awake. I guess he finally had relief from being so tight and could finally rest.
Some people say 7 is a lucky number. Maybe surgery # 7 will prove to be just that for Lane Carter. I do think it will help him in the long run. We just have to recover first.

I'll try anything to help

I've gone back and forth so many times about whether or not to put Lane thru yet another surgery. I've had my doubts about this pump and it's potential benefits versus overdosing on Baclofen and.. well we won't go there... but here we are, sitting in Vandy's 1st floor waiting area. In a little bit we'll be given a room and Lane's Baclofen trial will officially begin.
Ok, so a little bit turned into 3 hours but we finally got a room on the 8th floor. The physical therapist came in and evaluated him and then the nurse practioner came in to give Lane his epidural injection of Baclofen. Now we wait. Again. The PT came back to re-evaluate him and his numbers (their way of rating the kids' tone) was better. This means the Baclofen was having a positive effect on his tone. Shannon even came up to see if she thought it was making a difference. She's had him since he was 3 months old and knows his tone better than anyone. She felt it was loosening him up even though he was tired and fighting her. The PT came back and evaluated him for the third and final time and his numbers continued to improve. In other words, Lane's trial was a success and he is a candidate to have the pump implanted. Now we just hang out tonight to make sure he doesn't have any adverse reactions to the medicine. What's one more night of my life in Vandy? Have some Taco Bell, talk to the nurses, suffer thru the science channel with Will, try to fit 2 of us on a couch meant for 1, why that almost qualifies as a date! I've spent many a night in this place and truly don't mind it. I do get Will all to myself on days like these. I told ya I can find the good in most anything. That is 1 thing I've learned on this journey. It's part of what got me through our time in the NICU.
I will say that Lane's arms were very loose and he seemed comfortable. Maybe it's worth doing after all. Like I said, I'll try anything to make that sweet baby's life more normal. Although he is anything but normal. He is extraordinary. Thank you God for the challenge and honor of being his mommy. I pray we make the right decisions.