Here is an e-mail I sent out the day after Ellie's most recent surgery on April 5, 2008. I know many of you have already read this, but like I said, I may be repeating myself, like I said, I may be repeating myself. I really just wanted a space to archive what was happening then. If you saved any of the hospital e-mails, I would be most greatful if you could forward them back to me. Thanks!
[caption id="attachment_166" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Ellie"]
[/caption]Hey all you "Ellie fans"--
Every doctor that we see, when finished discussing something with us, asks, "Do you have any questions." There is much pressure to ask an appropriate intelligent question at that point in the conversation (I am sure you understand this, Kirk, from previous interviewing experiences...). Ellie decided that the questions she wanted to ask was, "Do birds burp?"
The surgical doctor who responded really considered the question before responding that he assumed that they did b/c their digestive systems are quite similar to ours. Now when a doctor asks if we have a question, Thom has responded that his most important question has been answered (did i spell that correctly? it looks so funny, but everything looks and feels a bit funny today).
Yesterday Ben and I were in the snack shop downstairs and Ben was riding in a hospital chair. He had
[caption id="attachment_156" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Ben chillin"]
[/caption]
a bag of new trucks in his hand. He decided he wanted to get off of the chair to look around. He started to fall outta the chair, but did not want to stop holding the bob the builder trucks in this hand and let his face catch his fall. When I picked him up, his face (sorry Dan, I know you won't like this part, just stop reading now) was covered in blood as he was bleeding from both his nostrils and his mouth. Being so very good at panicking (I have learned from some of THE best panickers), I picked him up and ran over to the check out counter. I have gotten to know the woman who works there fairly well (they sell Starbucks in the snack shop as well as donuts and falafel), she started grabbing paper towels out of its container as quickly as she could. She asked if she could call someone (as we are in a hospital afterall!) and immediately gave Ben some chocolate ice cream to eat. He recovered quite remarkably after that.
[caption id="attachment_156" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Ben chillin"]
[/caption]a bag of new trucks in his hand. He decided he wanted to get off of the chair to look around. He started to fall outta the chair, but did not want to stop holding the bob the builder trucks in this hand and let his face catch his fall. When I picked him up, his face (sorry Dan, I know you won't like this part, just stop reading now) was covered in blood as he was bleeding from both his nostrils and his mouth. Being so very good at panicking (I have learned from some of THE best panickers), I picked him up and ran over to the check out counter. I have gotten to know the woman who works there fairly well (they sell Starbucks in the snack shop as well as donuts and falafel), she started grabbing paper towels out of its container as quickly as she could. She asked if she could call someone (as we are in a hospital afterall!) and immediately gave Ben some chocolate ice cream to eat. He recovered quite remarkably after that.
After her seizure last night, Ellie was intubated (tube down the throat) to help her breathe and sedated to help her feel more comfortable with the intubation. She is continuing to be intubated and sedated until at the earliest after her MRI. They like to check after brain surgery to see how things are looking. I guess it was a pretty tough night after her seizure as her temperature rose to 102 and her heartrate went to 215. Now her temperature is back down to 99 and her heart rate is at 100 (normal for kids her age). During surgery it was discovered that her shunt was completely blocked and now she has an external shunt. The plan is to replace the shunt some time next week. When she had the seizure last night, it looks like she may have developed a bit of pneumonia which is also now being treated. So right now she is pretty much out with the doctors arrousing her every few hours to check her neurological responses. Intubation will insure that she continues to receive enough oxegyn.
[caption id="attachment_168" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Kip & Patrick visit (8/05)"]
[/caption]Two of Ben's fabulous uncles (he has quite a few of those!), are in town to show him a good time. I wanted Ben to be away from the hospital as much as possible, particularly immediately after surgery. I think it might be a bit startling for him to see Ellie right now intubated arnd all tubed up. Additionally, I want to keep the room quiet for Ellie as much as possible. Right now, Kip and Patrick are at the zoo park, where Ben was planning for Kip to go down the slide and Patrick to ride on the swing, although I could have his plans reversed. I told Kip he could take Ben to a nearby coffee shop with a t-r-a-i-n table. Spelling didn't help b/c Ben immediately said, "I want to go to the train table coffee shop." I think he is going to have the most wonderful weekend ever and I think he will be asking to go to NYC as soon as possible.
That is about it for now. Thank you all for your well wishes! Love, Ellie's biggest fan
I probably saved all of your emails if you still want them.
ReplyDeleteMan, I am so happy to be reminded of the Do Birds Burp question. Where did she come up with that?
Again, I wish I would have been right there with you for more of this. I want to BE THERE more from this point forward. Everyone has busy lives, but friends are our best gifts.