The preparation for the second surgery was much more challenging than the first. He refused to take his medications. We managed to get the "Valium" like medication down but he spit out his Loritab (pain reliever). The drops were much more challenging as he knew what was going to happen this time around. We spoke with the anesthesiologist at length about his difficulty and crying last time after surgery and she assured us she would do her best to bring him out much more slowly and restfully. I also spoke with the nurse and for him let her know about his trouble of post-op last time with the "no-no's and my concern for him being frightened and alone.
When it was time for him to go back they allowed us to go up to the hallway of the operating room where he was crying and pleading for us. We then headed out to the waiting room to see my parents and a great friend who came to join us at this surgery as well. It sure does help pass that stressful time to have family and wonderful friends there with us. Phillip and I run out of things to talk about on our own, so we love having people there to distract us.
The doctor came out to tell us he had done well in surgery and we would be able to go back and see him soon. When we went back, he was laying in the bed moaning a little bit. The nurse had not place the no-no's on him and he seemed much more calm. When I told him I was there, and he began to cry. Phillip put him in my lap and he went back to sleep whimpering just a tad bit here and there. It was so refreshing to have him resting instead of being inconsolable. After about 30 minutes they went and got our friend and my parents and they let them head out the back entrance with us.
Ashton slept all the way home and then for about another hour once we got home on the couch. The rest of the day was very fussy and irritable but not like the screaming we had experienced the past week. The night was still pretty exhausting checking on him and his whimpering a lot while he was sleeping.
The next morning we went to see the doctor for our follow up visit. It did not go as smoothly as the week before. He seemed to be in much more pain with his sensitivity to light. She was unable to get a good look, so we scheduled another visit for next Tuesday morning. If she is able to get a good enough look and is satisfied we are good to go for another week. If not, we will need to put him under anesthesia again next week for her to get a solid look on Wednesday.
Suggestions on how to reason with a 4 year old boy he needs to sit perfectly still for 15 minutes with a bright light being shined in his sensitive eyes would be greatly appreciated. We'll see....
Yesterday went rather smoothly although he is much more resistant to the drops. I think it is a combination of making them more sensitive to light plus it now encompasses both eyes. It is just exhausting trying to keep him from jumping, running and rough housing. As he feels a little better he wants to do more things a normal 4 year old boy would enjoy doing.
Yesterday afternoon, we did have a wonderful opportunity to visit with a friend after picking up Alex from school in the afternoon. It was spiritually recharging to visit and relax. Great friends are a precious gift from God!
This morning was a slightly different story than yesterday. Ashton had his eye patch on over night and this morning he refused to open his eyes. He said they hurt and he did not want to open them. I figured it was probably his night patch, so I slowly took it off. Unfortunately, it ripped off about a quarter square inch of skin off of his face. It was extremely raw and I immediately applied Neosporin with pain relief to it. He cried in my arms for the next two hours still refusing to open his eyes. When Phillip got home from dropping Alex off at school and nothing was soothing him, we got him dressed to take him to Burger King to get a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. Finally, after about 20 minutes of being there he finally opened one eye. He is very frustrated with the process and seems to be giving up. So, from 7:30-10:30 he refused to open his eyes. Where does this young man get his stubbornness? Well, don't look at me!!!! :)
This afternoon we went by to visit Ashton's school because his class had made him a get well soon and we miss you book. Both of his teachers and each student created a page for him. It is the most precious thing I've ever seen. He cannot wait to go back to school to resume life as normal. He does not enjoy being in the spot light and missing out on all the fun his friends are having. It really bothers him how people look at him and he does not like leaving home much. I am hoping his eyes will look and feel better soon.
Please pray for Ashton to feel stronger and less defeated about his recovery as well as for Tuesday's check-up to well enough to not have to undergo anesthesia on Wednesday. We appreciate all of your prayers and words of encouragement. Well wishes to all of you.
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