June 19, 2008

Clarification

In an earlier post I said that the two nerves to her legs were accidentally cut during surgery. Now that I think about it I remember the surgeon saying that they were cut in order to extract the tumor. The tumor had grown around the nerve and there was no other way to get it out. The surgeon told us all of this right after surgery but after seven plus hours nervously awaiting some kind of news I found it very difficult to process much beyond the fact that she was stable and that the tumor was removed.

Also, she did end up needing a blood transfusion during surgery. Which isn't surprising given the length and difficulty of the operation. She lost 12% of her blood (not all at once), but it was replaced.

Since we've been home she's been feeling fine. She doesn't seem to have any pain, or even tenderness at the incision. The dressing on the incision has been removed and it is covered with steri-strips (I think that's what they are called) which will fall off on their own in about a week. The sutures are the kind that dissolve so luckily we don't have to have those taken out. The incision is large but it looks like it is healing well. I'll take pictures of it soon. Hopefully the scar will fade. The scar on her back from her previous surgery looks great now and has faded a lot. It also seems a lot smaller, but I guess she has grown a lot since then..it used to be half of her back.

She also was taken off of her blood pressure medication. The tumor puts out a lot of chemicals and stuff that cause blood pressure to be elevated. Since the bulk of the tumor was removed her pressures have been very good. It's a relief to have one less medical thing to do everyday.

10 comments:

Ericka said...

so much good news. it's wonderful.
how are you sleeping?

The Solo Family said...

Glad to hear that she is doing so well. Madeleine is a real trooper.
Give her hugs and kisses from the Solo Family.
Love to all of you.

Amber said...

Thank you!
sleep is okay, she's still up every couple of hours. Getting her to bed has been difficult since the hospital, it always messes with her schedule and she thinks she can stay up until 10pm. Not so!

Anonymous said...

Hey she's wearing her new sundress!! And looking very suspiciously at those shoes. Do they fit her yet? Give her a big kiss from Grandma N.

Anonymous said...

My eyes stream with tears as I read your site. What a brave little family! Madeleine is beautiful. May all the healing powers in the universe be with her as she goes through this. May all the love and strength in the universe be with you, Amber and Daddy.

Anonymous said...

Madeleine has been and continues to be on our prayer list here at Christ Church in Oakhurst. It's nice to see a picture of her now that we learned of her website. - Fr. Gordon

Amber said...

Thank you for the continued prayers and good wishes. I know that she is stronger because of all of the support and love she is/has received. I'm glad you found us.

Rick said...

What a doll. I'm sending a prayer up on behalf as I write.

Anonymous said...

Madeleine is looking so good. She seems to like those cute little shoes. Soon she'll be wearing them. We are thinking about you every day and sending lots of good thoughts and love.
Grandma Nancy

Nick said...

Haha. Ask Jocelyn about those steri-strip things sometime. She's quite fond of them.