Day 4 Post Op

Sunday night was a good night in terms of Dana's pain and we were both able to have a good nights sleep. I heard the night nurse come in about 2am to turn Dana and change her. Then at 6.30am I woke up to the sight of a really cute doctor standing next to Dana's bed. Not a bad way to wake up in the morning. I sit up while he is talking to Dana and asking her how she is feeling, I join the conversation and we speak for a few moments. He seems pleased with Dana's progress and then leaves.

I place an order for Dana's breakfast and she complains of feeling sick and a headache. I think she is feeling anxious about the therapy this morning and most likely also feeling hungry. While we wait for breakfast I get Dana ready and the nurse comes in and introduces herself, Allie has been given the day off today as quite a few children were discharged yesterday so less nurses are needed. Michelle gives Dana her meds including a course of antibiotics as the urine sample tested borderline and did show something so the doctors feel Dana is better starting the medication. Within half an hour Dana is ready for physio. The transfer to her wheelchair is still difficult and Dana is uncomfortable with pains in her back which settles down after a few minutes. I take the post surgery exercise booklet which was given to us at our initial assessment and make our way to the staff only lifts which will take us to the therapy department. I know Dana is nervous, I am nervous about the physio session this morning. There are so many question which no one can answer, they can only give me examples of how other children have progressed. Yes Dana is progressing well, don't get me wrong, the doctors are really pleased. My questions are when will she feel less pain, when will she be able to use the bathroom, when can she put weight through her legs and feet. Every child is different and I know older children take longer to recovery, but this really sucks, sorry american term but fits with how I feel. I am expecting too much post op day 4, but am really scared being discharged tomorrow and being on my own at the hotel without the support of the nursing staff.

The physio session in the morning was so good and Dana really made a great effort. The therapist took one look at the wheelchair and said she was going to find a wheelchair we can use. I really did not give a thought about transfers and how Dana's wheelchair is so unsuitable. I planned for everything before flying to the USA and wish I had thought about the wheelchair. The thought of making your child more uncomfortable than what they are currently experiencing makes me feel I have let her down. The therapist called an assistant who was tasked to search the whole hospital for a wheelchair and was given a very specific brief. A while later she return with a wheelchair which was disinfected and looked so much more suitable for Dana. I raised my concerns with the therapist about being discharged tomorrow and especially about the transportation to and from the hospital. This again was taken care of. Nothing is too much trouble. At the end of the session the therapist advised Dana should stay in the wheelchair for up to an hour then go back to bed for a sleep. This is repeated following the afternoons session also. I take Dana to choose some more DVD's to watch and soon becomes uncomfortable. We head back to her room and I order lunch once Dana is back in bed.

The plan was for Dana to have a sleep before lunch, however what followed was a bit distracting. Superman made an appearance in Dana room and left a magazine which I gave to Ollie and I got a picture with Superman, well it had to be done. Once he left a few minutes later Nel arrived. Nel is a dog who had a hat, green neck scarf and green glasses. She was so cute and is a regular visitor to the children on the ward. It really makes a difference to their recovery. Can't see this happening in the NHS, can you? You know the whole experience while in hospital is much more relaxed than back home. The nurses wear tee-shirts which have the children's hospital logo and are different colours, they wear nail varnish and every time they leave your room will always ask, is there anything else I can get for you, is there anything you need. They welcome you buzzing them and answer via intercom. The meds are scaned into a computer which is in every room and matched again Dana's hospital bracelet. It's like a remote scanner in a supermarket. As soon as the meds are scanned they show on Dana's records, I dread to think how much medication she has had. Keith then arrives who will cast Dana for her splints. This of course happens when lunch arrives. Dana is give a ring with samples to choose from and has to choose a colour for the splint, another from samples for the lining, another from samples for the straps and another from samples from the velcro. The NHS have a choice of colours for the splint, and white for the straps and velcro. There is no lining. Keith proceeds to take the cast of both legs which is mess free. Believe me when Dana has this done at home it is so messy it is like they are putting a plaster cast on her and we always have to go to the plaster room. Keith mentions the splints are ready in 6-10 days, we usually wait 3-4 weeks back home and only have a review when we as parents feel Dana has grown out of them. Dana will wear these USA splints for 6 weeks then these are reduced to ankle splints. Keith is done within 20 minutes and Dana is able to eat.

It's not long until we have to return for the afternoon physio session and Dana has still not slept. Meds are given to Dana and we get ready to go to our appointment.This time the transfer to the wheelchair is easier as she now is using the hospitals wheelchair. Again a very good physio session, I'm so proud of Dana. As she is lying on the mat she looks at the treadmill by the side of the mat and the rock climbing wall infront of her and says'when am I going on them' that's my girl!! Again Dana is asked to stay in the wheelchair for another hour if able to so I take her for an ice cream for a treat. Dana returns to her room in the hope of having a sleep but nothing. I order dinner for her and make her comfy in bed.

Today has certainly been a long day for Dana and she has done so well. I am looking forward to what she is able to achieve and hope she does not loose heart in her own ability in what she is capable to achieve. It will be good getting back to the hotel again after being in hospital since Thursday and sleeping in a proper bed. In a way I feel she should remain in hospital for the support, yet she is not clinically needy.

Well tomorrow is another day and I haven't got a clue how it will turn out. I do hope Dana continues to make progress and is able to weight bare soon. I need to relax a lot more and just ensure I encourage and support Dana.