We've initiated another member into the Gardipee Surgery Club! Now G is odd man out. Kealan has her first surgery under her belt. After 5 1/2 years of special exercises, glasses and patching, she had surgery on both eyes to correct her Strabismus. When we first scheduled it, she was very anxious at the word "surgery", as she remembers the fallout from Tiernan's. After a few weeks and learning that she would be treated to a popsicle when it was over, that anxiety melted away! In the appointments leading up to and including S Day, the doctors/nurses never failed to ask if she had any questions. To which she consistently replied, "Are you sure I get a popsicle?" She was always relieved to hear that indeed she would! After checking in and getting vitals, she got a briefing on what would occur: step-by-step explanation on the process leading up to the actual surgery and a look at a picture of the OR. Then she chose her "flavor" for her mask (lip balm to smear on the inside - Banana Strawberry), decorated her mask with stickers and got Teddy Bear properly suited up (with her own mask as well!).
I was able to go back with her while she was put under. This is my least favorite part of the whole deal. Even though she wasn't screaming like T did, I don't enjoy my child losing control and witnessing all of the involuntary movements that go with it. It's a frightening thing to behold. After gathering myself a bit, we sat down to wait. It only took about 45 minutes, and I shared my backed-up People Magazines with a few of the other parents. Why they didn't bring anything to distract themselves, I'll never know! We were able to join her in recovery, and she came out of it really well. The first word out of her mouth was literally, "popsicle". My girl knows how to stick to her guns! As soon as she was able to indulge, the nurse brought her her choice - red. She ended up eating 4!
She's healing quite nicely, though the sight of her eyes makes people do a double-take. I just bought her one of my fave books from childhood called Bunnicula about a vampire bunny. On the cover is an illustration of a rabbit with glowing, red eyes. She has since christened herself, "Bunnicula"! (The pic, of course, doesn't show it well. All of the whites in her left eye and half of the whites in her right eye are dark, blood red!)
We've initiated another member into the Gardipee Surgery Club! Now G is odd man out. Kealan has her first surgery under her belt. After 5 1/2 years of special exercises, glasses and patching, she had surgery on both eyes to correct her Strabismus. When we first scheduled it, she was very anxious at the word "surgery", as she remembers the fallout from Tiernan's. After a few weeks and learning that she would be treated to a popsicle when it was over, that anxiety melted away! In the appointments leading up to and including S Day, the doctors/nurses never failed to ask if she had any questions. To which she consistently replied, "Are you sure I get a popsicle?" She was always relieved to hear that indeed she would! After checking in and getting vitals, she got a briefing on what would occur: step-by-step explanation on the process leading up to the actual surgery and a look at a picture of the OR. Then she chose her "flavor" for her mask (lip balm to smear on the inside - Banana Strawberry), decorated her mask with stickers and got Teddy Bear properly suited up (with her own mask as well!).
I was able to go back with her while she was put under. This is my least favorite part of the whole deal. Even though she wasn't screaming like T did, I don't enjoy my child losing control and witnessing all of the involuntary movements that go with it. It's a frightening thing to behold. After gathering myself a bit, we sat down to wait. It only took about 45 minutes, and I shared my backed-up People Magazines with a few of the other parents. Why they didn't bring anything to distract themselves, I'll never know! We were able to join her in recovery, and she came out of it really well. The first word out of her mouth was literally, "popsicle". My girl knows how to stick to her guns! As soon as she was able to indulge, the nurse brought her her choice - red. She ended up eating 4!
She's healing quite nicely, though the sight of her eyes makes people do a double-take. I just bought her one of my fave books from childhood called Bunnicula about a vampire bunny. On the cover is an illustration of a rabbit with glowing, red eyes. She has since christened herself, "Bunnicula"! (The pic, of course, doesn't show it well. All of the whites in her left eye and half of the whites in her right eye are dark, blood red!)
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