bondservant by blood: 3 Years Post-Op Checkup

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

3 Years Post-Op Checkup

Last Friday, we went to the University of Iowa Hospital for Tesh's 3 year post op appointment. Nerves struck me as the time grew closer to find out if her head was still good or if she'd have to have another head surgery.

For those that don't know, Tesh was diagnosed with Sagittal Synostosis at 2 months old, a fusion of the cranial sutures. This abnormally early fusion happens typically in utero, so she was born this way, it just took us 2 months to figure it out. Other parents/doctors have waited years to figure it out, so we are blessed to have the doctors that we have.

So on the way to the hospital, I'm preparing my 4 year old for this appt. knowing that she practically hates most, if not all, strangers and we were about to encounter many strangers. As we would arrive to places, she kept the mantra up, "I don't want to go to the doctor!"

After the eventful xray was taken, where 3 people had to hold her down in order to get "I guess that will work" shots of her head, each stranger seemed a little less abrasive. Of course, it involved me taking my temperature in front of her and so forth.

The appointment went well. The xrays looked good and by the time we saw Dr. M (her neurosurgeon), she was ready to be a little more cooperative. Phew!

Clean bill of health! I was relieved! Dr. M explained how her skull was healing, that it was "fingering" back together, but that was ok.

Tesh was skipping as we left the doctors office, finally getting the permission to "go back home!"

Thank you God for Your mercy!

Me trying to calm her fears.

All done! We get to go back home!

Tesh thought is was funny that the picture had no hair.
You can see the top where it's darkened, meaning there's still that "gel" and not hard fused bone.

The mass above her head would be the tech's hand, holding her head...
but right underneath his hand you can see certain white spots. That's where the "fingering" healing is happening.