We had to be at the hospital by 8am. Maddi was not able to eat or drink anything other than clear food and fluids after midnight and until 8am. We knew that we would likely have to wait a while and that she would fade quickly if she went too long without eating or drinking so we tried our best to get her to drink some apple juice but it wasn't really happening. She has never been a juice drinker so we couldn't push the issue. If only you could explain to a toddler that this would be their last change to drink for hours!!
We checked in at the hospital around 8, and we were sent up to day surgery. We headed off to find the appropriate elevators that would get us up to day surgery. By this point my "flight" response was already in high gear, let me tell you. I have not ever been comfortable in a hospital, and I am always looking for the nearest exit where I can make my escape! So when we boarded the haunted elevator, let's just say that it was instantly full on panic attack mode. We hit the button to go up, it went down, then up, then down then up then down and this went on for what felt like forever, and meanwhile miss cool as a cucumber, aka me, (haha!) was hitting emergency help buttons, door open buttons all while trying to grab my cell phone to call 911. Eventually the elevator snapped out of it's frenzy and got us to the right floor, no emergency personnel needed. Phewf!!
We got to the Day Surgery ward where we waited...and waited...and waited...All the while maddi was becoming more and more irritable. We finally got called and we changed Maddi into the standard issue stripe pajamas. After a little more waiting, it was finally her turn to head down to the holding room for surgery. We met with the anesthetist, and then her surgeon (Dr. Dzus) and we were able to ask some questions. This was our first chance to talk to her surgeon since the very brief visit we had when she decided to book Maddi in for surgery. One thing I had been worrying about was what would happen to the severed tendon? What happened if someday there was an opportunity to try a therapy or surgery of some sort that required having the Achilles' tendon in tact? We learned that no matter what, the tendon will always re-attach itself. So the surgeon's plan was that she would sever the tendon and also remove about a cm of length to prolong the amount of time before the two ends would reconnect. This will hopefully mean it would be a while before she would need this surgery again, if ever.
The anesthetist gave us the option to have either Greg or I go in with her to hold her while they gave her the gas. Not feeling like this was something I could handle in that moment, I quickly nominated Greg. I am so glad that he was able to go in with her. We had heard that sometimes they don't let anyone go in. So he donned the suit required to enter the operating room, and then they soon came to get them and take them back. This picture was right before heading in:
We headed to the waiting room where we would hang out until they called to say one of us could come in to recovery. It was going to be a really quick procedure so we stayed put knowing that the call would come soon. We had been warned that toddlers sometimes wake up from anesthesia flailing and upset, and maddi lived up to the somewhat. They called us in after she was extubated and was somewhat lucid. She was quite upset when she woke up and was trying to rip the IV from her arm. She was truly in an inconsolable state. It was quickly clear that it would have to just run it's course. We've seen this before the odd time when she's overtired at supper time! Thankfully she wasn't in any pain, as she has no feeling in the area operated on. Although she kept saying "owie" but it was just the IV that was bothering her. The recovery room nurse wanted to give her morphine but I politely declined. Before long she was enjoying her popsicle, smiling again and we were ready to be wheeled back to the day surgery ward.
She was given her favorite food, toast with peanut butter and she perked up considerably. We were able to leave before too long, thankfully avoiding a second ride on the haunted elevator. We went back to the hotel where we kept her contained in the bed for the rest of the afternoon. Later that evening she was ready to move around so we let her crawl around on the floor and the cast lasted all of about and hour. It wasn't long and it was falling off. The following morning we called to find out what to do and it turned out that a visit to RUH emergency was our only hope of seeing an orthopedic surgeon. Thankfully it wasn't a long wait and we were on our way upstairs to the casting room. This time they did a cast all the way up to the middle of her thigh. It's too bad she needed such a big cast but we are glad that this one is staying on without issue.
All in all everything went very well and we are so thankful for the team of doctors and nurses and other support people looking after Maddi that day. This was a simple surgery but we are glad to have it done and over with none the less. We are also very thankful for everyone's well wishes, prayers and positive thoughts. It is all so very uplifting and was exactly what we needed. We are so thankful to have so many amazing, caring friends in our lives.
