Tuesday, April 8, 2008

We're home and all is well. THAT PORT IS OUT, for ever and ever (we hope and pray). Hannah did really well today. We arrived at the hospital at 5:30am this morning and were all checked in when they came in to say the doctor was in surgery with an emergency appendectomy. So, we waited! They took Hannah and I to the back room at about 9:20am. I was able to go back with her while they used the mask to put her to sleep. Thank goodness the nurse anesthetist was very good, singing her to sleep because Hannah was not happy and a bit upset at this. They have never used the mask before, she has always had an IV or her port was accessed and they used medicine to knock her out quickly. This took a little longer, but as it started to take effect, she became sleepy and much happier. The surgery officially began at 9:45am. She was done by 9:56am, about 10 minutes. The doctor came out to tell us all was good, went perfectly. She has to be careful for 2 weeks not to hit the area. All stitches are internal, just a surgical strip on the outside (that Hannah wants no part of, and can't look at). Nothing needs to be removed, and as long as it heals nicely, we're all done.

Hannah is quite sore at the port site. She won't move her arm, the same thing she used to do when she was accessed. It will most likely be sore for a couple of days, so we'll just see how it goes. She is already cleared to go back to school, when she feels up to it.

The doctor is saving her port for her. It first has to be cleaned, then sent to pathology. Insurance won't cover the surgery unless pathology confirms that it actually came out. We'll get it back in a couple weeks. Hannah is deciding exactly what to do with it. I like the idea of trampling it with a horse, so I'll be sure to pass that one along Ann!

Here are a few pictures from the day. As I look at others' websites, I wish I had had more pictures of Hannah when this experience first started. So even though it may seem strange, I was taking pictures today as she prepared for the surgery. I think she is used to it, she didn't think twice! This last picture was just taken here at home, after some soup she asked for something really yummy, so she had a double scooper ice cream cone. Unfortunately, she didn't like the one ice cream that much and ended up gagging on it. Needless to say, we won't be having that one again.

Thanks to all of you for your well wishes and prayers.

xoxo Kim