Back surgery day 2





 8-24-2011




She looks like she got her lips injected. She is puffy from being face down durring the surgery. she is hooked up to tons of stuff. At this point she has a big ball of tubes and wires that are all bunched up.



I walked into to the ICU around 8am today. To my surprise Avri was talking about the time I waxed her armpits to all the nurses. Apparently she had just had some tape ripped off her leg and they said it was a partial leg wax. I had to explain myself; yes…I did wax her armpits once. We mutually decided it would be better than me trying to shave her every other day in the shower during swim season. It was then her decision to just go all natural and do nothing. She has been trying to shave them herself lately. Needless to say she was feeling well enough to talk to the nurses about that one time.



When I was done defending myself I asked her how she was feeling. She said (in a weak but upbeat as possible voice) “I feel great” she looks good. I noticed her coloring was better and she was not as puffy. I watched as they rolled her over onto her side. It looked as though she had some good practice through the night. She stiffened up a bit (although it’s hard to tell because I am not use to her being straight) let out a small ouch and then relaxed again. I asked her if she wanted me to take a picture. She said “yes, and then send it to your mom and tell her I love her” I took the picture and I am standing there trying to talk to her and she says “did you send the picture and message to grandma yet?” So I had to leave and go send it. (There are no cell phones allowed in the ICU)



They said she would look thinner after being stretched out and straightened up. look how straight she is.  This is her first few seconds of sitting up for the first time.  



The physical therapists came in at 10:00am to sit her up for the first time. The goal is to just have her dangle her legs on the edge of the bed for 3 minutes. They had 4 people around her to help lift and guide her to the sitting position. She had a hard time relaxing and letting them do the work for her. She kept saying “do you want me to help?” They say back “no, no, no…just relax” They got her upright with ease. She never once made a sound or complained. As soon as they got her upright her face started to drain all of it color. (They warned me that she would more than likely vomit and pass out) We had the bucket ready and they were supporting her the entire time. One of them asked if they could brush her hair. To my surprise she said “yes”. She hates getting her hair combed or brushed. The next thing I noticed was how straight she was. Her front looked so flat and the huge S in her back is gone. It tugged at my heart because the bend in her back has become a part of her personality or something. It made her look (not like her anymore) I held it together long enough to take a couple pictures and then show them to her. I was supposed to be keeping her focused on something. She is going more and more pale as the minute clicks by then ….going, going…her blood pressure and pulse spiked then dropped her eyes start to roll and they lay her back down. It took a few prompts for her to breath. She is just laying there wide eyed not saying a word as the color slowly returns to her face. Then she says (almost in a whisper) “mom go send the pictures of me being straight to grandma” Phew…I can take a deep breath, I have a really good excuse to step out. I take the opportunity to go have my breakdown and then recompose myself before Avri has a chance to lose it with me. She sat up again a couple hours later and did even better. She never did throw up or pass out.



This is something you have to see to beleive. She is so straight.



I have been asked what it is we do differently with her because I do not baby her. All I can say is “ I have never let her give up and I always make her finish what she started no matter how long it takes or how difficult it is” other than that I don’t think I play a part. She just came into this world with some unbelievable gifts to touch everyone she is around no matter the cost to her.



I was able to talk with one of her doctors and he said she was looking better than could have ever been expected. He said all her past surgeries must be playing a part in her bravery and strength. He said he could not believe the little amount of blood she lost. She will not be coming home any sooner but she sure is making it easier on the heart strings.

She is done with physical therapy for the day and will just be resting. She is pretty tuckered out. Those 2 three minute sessions were exhausting. Hopefully she will just sleep for the rest of the evening in between being turned every two hours.



She did come up with a new signature hug. Matt was leaving. She went to hug him and realized she had to many tubes in her hands and arms and that it hurt to move her arms like that, so she pinched his ear lobes and said that was all she could do.