Well, our Elliot has been anxiously awaiting this day... nervous is an understatement! But here it is~ We went up to Portland the night before since he had to be there so early. We were super tired since Braden had a band concert that night - so we couldn't leave until after his part in the concert! But we made it~ safe and sound.
Getting up that early and NOT eating breakfast (for any of us...) was a little rough but we put on a smile and acted like it was no biggie for Elliot's sake!
Everything seemed good to go with Elliot ~ until~ they needed to put in the IV... He was having NO PART of it... They had to bring out the "big guns" and give him some "happy juice" and he was soon Mr. Mellow and all good no matter where he was or what was happening. ;-)
Dorenbecher (the hospital) was amazing! We had a pager that the OR nurse would send us text messages throughout the surgery for updates... there were screens all throughout the hospital that posted your child's "number" and what stage of surgery they were in at that point.
We received texts like - Dr. Halsey is finishing up with the left ankle and everything went well. He will be starting on the right ankle shortly. etc. Super reassuring as parents/family!
When he was in recovery we talked with the anesthesiologist who told us that there had been some issues right at the beginning where Elliot's lungs were inflated and were not "exhaling" correctly - so he had to take the breathing tube out and have him go under more deeply than normal. Crazy to find out this way that he doesn't go under easily!
Surgeon said everything went smoothly and the left ankle was less involved (we knew that it would be) and that his right foot took quite a bit longer since the bones were already fused together. But he said everything looked great.
When we went in to see him he had two camouflaged casts up to his knees... they looked sooo heavy and HUGE!! Crazy to think that our little guy would be hoisting those puppies up and down every step for the next month! He was pretty out of it but the first thing he said was "I did it!! I went through with the surgery Mom!" (I wasn't aware that he was thinking of backing out....;-)
When he was put into a room for the night we were able to get some sleep for at least 40 minutes at a time... (you know how hospitals are!) He had a rough night coming off of the anesthesia - lots of puking and bathroom breaks! Casts on BOTH feet do not do well with tile floors!
We made it through the night and the Physical Therapist fitted him with some "boots" so he would be able to have some traction. He was up and walking on them in a matter of minutes!!
He has been literally running, playing basketball, riding his bike, driving the lawnmower... you name it.. since he got home. We took a couple of days where he was able to get back into the land of the living but other than some naps - he was good to go... no need for those silly crutches they gave us!
He has been so active we even had to go back to Portland and get his cast changed because he had worn through the cotton padding on the inside and it was rubbing on his skin. He had even worn through the "boots" that were for traction. The doctors were a little surprised to see that! Had to get another pair~ they assured us that there was nothing wrong with him being active and being weight bearing on them - they were excited that he wasn't in any pain.
So, we go next week to get the casts off for good and find out what the game plan is next for his feet~
Hope you enjoy the pictures~
Love and miss you all,
Before the surgery...
Time to replace one of the casts!
Ready to run again!
Already riding his bike~
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