Blog 51 - Op #8 for Nick - 8 years - Lefort III Advancement - October 2012

We were at the hospital at 6.45am. Nick had fasted. We were fortunate that Nick was first on the list so we would not have the long wait that we had with Melissa. There was a PICU bed available for him.

We saw the anaesthetist and tried to act calm to keep Nick calm.

It wasn't long and we were called and went to wait in the waiting room outside of the theatre. We knew the nurse there from all the previous operations so we had a friendly chat and catch-up with her. Other parents who were there waiting with their littlies stared at us.

Nick wanted me to go into the theatre room with him so I donned the gown and hat.

It wasn't long - about 8.30am when the nurse came out through the theatre doors to collect Nick.

He climbed up onto the table and breathed in the gas...putting him to sleep. I prayed a silent prayer over him for God to keep him safe, and I kissed him....and left.

You know it is hard leaving your child on that table not knowing what is going to happen...if there will be complications..leaving your child in other people's hands. Yes they are trained professionals but things happen.

Joe and I decided that we would do what we always do when there is going to be a long operation...we would walk to Southbank...so we did in silence, holding hands...gathering strength from each other.

It was hot and there was a nice river breeze so we decided to go and find a park bench on the river walk to sit on. When we sat down Joe saw written in chalk on the arm, 'God loves you...Jesus is Lord.' We felt this was a sign from God telling us that He was there in that operating table looking over Nick and the surgeons. There were also 2 seagulls who I named Fred and Fredda who kept us company. I always think of my dad who passed away in 2003 when I see birds as he liked birds and when my Mum was having a colonoscopy after Dad's passing, there was a bird tapping on her hospital window. I felt comforted to think that Dad was there too.

It was about 4pm when we finally got to see Nick again. There had been complications during the operation. His cheekbones were as thin as paper and had fractured so titanium plates were attached to them. These titanium plates were used also to help secure the wires into the cheekbones (which we didn't know he was having as Melissa didn't have them). He also had a lot of blood loss and needed a lot of blood.

We eventually saw him in PICU. I was able to stay the night beside the bed in a recliner as there were no parent beds available. He woke up during the night and had vomiting. He nose bled continuously from the bleed.

The next day his eyes started to close. We would not see them open for a few more days.

© 2012 by Jenny Woolsey

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