At Kate's well check-up a month ago we found out that she had a hernia and though it wasn't anything too serious now, it would still need surgery. So today was the big day, We dropped Bree off at Rachel's and headed up to Primary Children's Hospital. Her surgery was scheduled for 12:45 and they told us the actual surgery would only take 30 mins. We thought we'd be all done by 3 in the afternoon. One thing, about hospital and the medical field in general is to never assume anything. Kate had to be fasting for the surgery so her last meal was at 9:20 the night before. No solids or liquids until after the surgery.
This is her as we registered, all happy to play with toys.
Then we went back to put on the clothing and then to the waiting room to meet with the doctor, the anethesiologist and the life coach.
This is where we found out that the surgery schedule before Kate's needed a lot more than planned and her 12:45 surgery was going to have to be postponed ... for 2 1/2 hours. However, Kate didn't seem to mind at all, there were toys and they even gave her a doll to color and to take with her into surgery.
Kate showing me her doll all colored and beautiful and Spencer in the back thinking, "Ahh another 2 hours before they even start... I'm starving!"Not sure why Spencer looks so funny in this picture. Weird angle I guess.
Because of the delay we got to go to a special play room for kids where she got to paint, make play dough, play with toys and lot of other fun stuff. By now it was 1pm and Kate had been fasting for over 14 hours and we never did hear a complaint from her - In fact this is the only time in her life where I've been grateful that the girl doesn't eat much. Spencer and I took turns to eat at the cafeteria because we were way hungry. While other kids were crying because they were hungry, Kate just kept on painting.
Ta-Da!
Finally at 3:40 It was Kate's turn to go back to surgery. She got to ride a tricycle with her new doll and blanket in hand. Was she scared? Not one bit! She was half way down the hall when I called her back to give me a hug and a kiss. Then we waited and while we waited we got some ice-cream. It helped pass the time. Even though it was a simple surgery she was still going under and being cut open. Something that never gets easy for a mother.
About 35 minutes later they called me back to see Kate after they woke her up. They prepped me that there were two ways in which children handled waking up from anesthesia. 1. Very calm, lethargic and bit dazed and quiet. Or 2. angry, crying very loud and hysterical. Knowing Kate's personality I expected the latter of the two. But to my surprise she was very much clam and quiet. In fact, it seemed as though she was bummed that she was awake. She kind of had a "stoned look" on her face.
After a few minutes of making sure her vitals were all ok they moved her into another room where Spencer could come back to be with her as well. It was now, when they asked her if she wanted a slurppy and almost 20 hours since she ate last, that she said she was hungry. Less then an hour after she got to the recovery room we were ready to go home. Kate was still a little groggy but Spencer and I were happy to be leaving. By the time we got home she was her normal self, wanting to show off her new scar to the kids in the neighborhood. When we got home she ate a bowl full of brown noodles, a milk shake, and a bowl of cereal.
It was such a great experience, given the circumstances, and we couldn't have asked for a better turn out. The people and the facility at Primary Children's Hospital were great and accommodating to our needs. As we waited for Kate to go back we were surrounded by children who were truly ill and disabled. It was such a humbling experience to know how healthy our family is and to think how often we take it for granted. It was a long day but the outcome was as good as it could have been. We are thankful to our Heavenly Father for answering our many prayers that things would go well.
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