Skip to main content

Surgery Part Deux

Maggie's back is not healing well.  On Sunday we noticed that it was separating in the middle where the skin is stretched the most.  Each day, the middle opens more and more. On Tuesday morning, we took Maggie to Primarys to have the plastic surgeon look at it.  He was concerned, but still had hope that it would heal itself.  Later that day, it looked even worse!  Then stitches started coming detached and yellow pussiness oozed out!  So today we ran up to Primarys again and the plastic surgeon said it is infected.  We're hoping that the high dose of antibiotics will clear up the infection by Monday.  That's when we will have another surgery to close up the opening.  We hope this will work and her back will finally heal.  But we are skeptical.  How will restitching it make it stay closed when it didn't work the first time?  The doc reassures us that it is just the top layer that they'll have to redo, and since it won't be infected, it will heal properly.  Still skeptical.   

Our little trooper also has a UTI...Urinary Tract Infection.  On Tuesday when we were cathing her, we noticed it was very cloudy.  We hope the antibiotics will clear this up too.  But why did it happen in the first place?  We are so careful to make everything sterile during her 3 times a day cathing.  

Between her back and UTI, she is in pain!  We try to make her more comfortable with regular doses of Tylenol.  Maggie handles it all very well.  We keep reminding ourselves that everything will be fine.  We've asked a couple of questions to a Facebook group for spina bifida parents who went through the in utero surgery.  We gets replies of horror stories from other moms, so we try to stay calm.  We remember that Maggie has a Father in Heaven who is aware of her little body and spirit.  He will perfectly take care of her, even when we and the doctors cannot.    

Good news:  Maggie has gained a pound since birth, and looks adorable in her clothes (she's more than just a scar :)

Here's a progression of her wound.  If you have a queezy stomach, don't look!


Sunday


Monday


Tuesday


Wednesday


Thursday







Labels:

Comments

  1. She IS adorable just as herself :) I like her light fuzzy hair, and it seems like her fingers are so long and pretty. Good luck with all :)

    ReplyDelete

  2. Oh, she's adorable!! Keep hangin' in there!

    Angee :)

    ReplyDelete

  3. I wish I could squeeze her into my shoulder...bet you do too., I'm sure! This angel continues to keep us prayerful, dependent, and merciful. Thank you Maggie for keeping us focused and humble. You are an inspiration.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Building a Utah Valley Parade of Home

Our home is complete (mostly), and we are thrilled!  It makes my heart flutter every time we pull up. This home is the fulfillment of a dream, full of beauty and accommodation.  Davey zooms up and down the ramps with freedom.  We all have our "favorite parts" of the home, and I can't narrow mine down to one.

The Parade of Homes is happening now, and every day I get questions from friends, family and strangers asking about the parade process and where we purchased things.  I'll answer some of them on the blog.  Keep in mind, this is just our experience.  I'm sure it is different for everyone.

Why did we build a parade home?  ·Some of the subcontractors offered a discount price because their products or work would be featured.  It doesn’t necessarily mean it is cheaper to build a parade home, but it is possible to get more for your money.  For example, appliances.  We wouldn’t normally buy Bosch appliances, but with parade discounts the fancier appliances were the …
5 comments
Read more

Surgery and Nursery

Can't sleep.  Spina bifida does that sometimes!  On Tuesday Davey will have surgery at Shriners Hospital.  Some call the surgery a bilateral tibial rotational osteotomy.   I refer to it as fixing the feet forward.  Here's how he walks now.  See how he trips on his feet because they turn inward.  That's a result of being born with clubbed feet.  Hopefully in two months after his casts have been removed, his feet will face forward.   This is Davey's 8th surgery (I think).  It's difficult to know how he processes the thoughts of surgery.   He is most excited to have a slumber party with his dad at the hospital, and for his Papa from Texas to come and sword fight with him.  It's been a long time since Matt and I had one of our kiddos in an operating room...over a year.  I've appreciated the break and pray the doctors will have skill, wisdom, compassion and clarity as they care for my little boy.  
My heart is really heavy concerning Maggie.  Spina bifida does …
10 comments
Read more

Cross-eyed Cuteness

Written by Matt.

We've had lots of appointments this week.

Thursday:  Millie and Maggie went to the Primary Children's in Riverton for an ultrasound on the kidneys and brain for Maggie.  Everything looked good. 
Friday:  Maggie's first follow up since her shunt surgery.  To us, she seems to be doing quite well except for her eyes crossing.  But as soon as the neurosurgeons saw Maggie, they said she needed to get an MRI.  He felt that it was urgent enough to do the scan that same day, but Millie was too sick to stay at the hospital and was lucky to drive home without crashing.  If you’ve never heard Millie crow up,  you’re missing out (it’s a mix between coughing and throwing up).  And we did an ultrasound on Davey's kidneys that day.  
Saturday:  The MRI.  Millie was still too sick to go to the hospital, so just Maggie and I went.  Maggie was charming as usual even on the required empty stomach and made instant friends with all the nurses and technicians.  I stayed wi…
6 comments
Read more