Charlotte’s Scalp Expansion Surgery
I know it has been some time since my husband or I have posted any info on here about Charlotte or anything going on in our world and I am sorry about that. We have been trying and succeeding I might add, to just enjoy our lives together. On top of that we are expecting a son on Dec. 3rd of this year. It has been good to just live our lives outside of a Doctors office. But like most things it was short lived.
I got the official call at the end of October saying Charlotte was scheduled November 5th to have scalp expansion surgery. Now we have been in contact with the Doctor over this last year and a half, but now the date was set. This is real now, I thought!
The morning of the surgery we woke very early and headed to the hospital. We had to be there by 6:15am. Charlotte was in a great mood which made it all that much better, and that much worse at the same time. We have never lied to her about what was going to happen that morning. We call them medican balls instead of expanders. She seems to understand that a little better. She knew she was going to have an operation and get shots and an IV and be spending the night and what not. The only thing we have not told her through all this is why. She knows she has no hair on the back of her head, but its why she has no hair we have not shared. I mean really, she is 2 1/2 is it necessary for her to know a dog ripped it all off. Not so much.
She did great with all the per-op stuff. Loved all the attention. Surprise! Towards the end of the pre-op waiting you could tell she was getting tired and began to get cranky. We got a bit worried about the separating from mommy and daddy the more time went on but, in the end she went like a chap. Nurse Lindsy was really nice and made it fun for her. At this point all we could do was wait. It was 8:10am.
Aaron and I headed to the cafeteria for some food and much needed distraction. Then back to the OR waiting room. About every 40min or so Mary Lou a nurse would come in and give us an update. I posted them on facebook and will copy them here now.
Facebook Post:
“1hr into surgery. Well, 1hr since they took her back. Just got an update, there about to cut. They have been putting her under and positioning her. Her Dr. is kinda OCD! And I’m completly OK with that!!!”
Thursday Nov. 5th 9:19am
“Second expander is in and there closing up the incision now.”
10:34am
“3rd expander is in and all the inside stiches are done, hes now closing up all the outside with tiny baby stiches. Side note: The lady that saved that 9yr old boy from the Pit Bull and was attacked on her leg a few weeks ago is also having surgery right now. Her husband is sitting next to us in the waiting room. Small world. Lets all throw a few prayers her way too please!”
12:08pm
“OK all, The Dr. just came in, everything went great! We will be heading to recovery to be with her soon. He is expecting her to be in quite a bit of pain though. But over all it went well!”
12:44pm
Not long after this post we headed back to see her. Still half asleep the first thing she asks for is…a shirt. Silly! Over all she just wanted to be held and cuddled. We were moved up to her room in the PEDS ward where she slept for a few more hours and woke up not too happy.
Another facebook post:
“4 hrs after surgery and she is still groggy and in A LOT of pain and won’t take any meds we offer. Going to be a long night I’m afraid. My poor baby!”
5:37pm
And it was!!!
More Facebook posts:
“So, long night. Charlotte ended up vomiting 3 times last night. All over herself, myself, her blanket, everything. The tiny bit of pain meds we did manage to get in her also came up. Her IV was a mess and had to come out which meant at 6am they had to come in and give her a shot in the leg, then draw blood soon after that.”
Friday Nov. 6th 10:04am
“It was a lot of me sleeping in really weird positions in a really small crib in the hopes to try and keep her happy. Not very easy 9mo prego. Oh and they shut off the power to all the rooms for maintenance. Two words: Camping Lanterns! Crazy!”
10:05am
“She is napping now. Did get her to eat a little bit this morning and pushing the liquids! Has a good bit of pain but over all just wants to go home. Dr. says maybe this evening! I do hope so! Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!”
10:08am
We took her to the cafeteria in the morning and basically got everything there in the hopes that she would eat something! We got 3 bites of a banana, 2 grapes, 4 bites of apple jacks and a piece of bacon in her. That’s it. But it was better than nothing.
We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon watching TV, trying to get her to eat anything else, drinking lots of liquids and a lot of cuddling. She perked up in the afternoon when grandma and grandpa showed up and we all went to eat lunch together. They played in the lil’ play room on the PEDS ward for a bit and then the Doctor came in.
The nurse took off the wrap and Charlotte went nuts. Not that it hurt but she had been through so much already and didn’t really know just what they were going to try and do this time. Once it came off she was fine. The Doctor explained everything again and the care for it and said we were good to go home. That easy! It was a breath of fresh air. Within 15-20min we were walking out the PEDS ward doors.
Facebook Post:
“Home at last! She seems to be feeling good. Not on any pain meds, (not for lack of trying that’s for sure). Hopefully her mood will last and we will have a good sleep filled night!!! Time will tell.”
4:04pm
We arrived home to just hang out and watch movies and rest. She did good most of the time. That is with the exception of trying to get her to take her meds. That was a melt down like no other! And she wants to throw her body so you have to watch the head and what not. We tried many different ways and ended up putting some in in some juice. Not sure how much she really got down. We also gave her a bath. As much as we could at least. She got very sweaty in the hospital and all. And then off to bed.
A small fight with going to bed. Seeing as she has a wound on her head it makes it hard for her to lay down. But we worked it all out within an hour or so.
Facebook Post:
“last night was a good one! Charlotte slept from 9pm-3am. Woke up groggy calling mommy. I snuck in and gave her some “juice” (oj with pain meds) and snuck back out as fast as I could. Official wake up was @ 8am. Back down for a nap now. Complains of the boo boo on her head hurting but no real melt downs. Its getting her to take the meds which is the problem. Suggestions?”
Saturday Nov. 7th 1:22pm
And here we are. She is waking now, I can hear her talking a bit in her room. We will attempt the jello shots with meds when she wakes up completely. I couldn’t think of anything else to try. It seems to be a wonderful day outside so maybe we will head to grandma and grandpas for a picnic lunch.
Over all it has been a great year and a half since this all started. Well, I mean the time in between has been great. We have been enjoying life and love and friends and family and the outside, a swimming pool, and well EVERYTHING we can get our hands on!!! Not taking any bit of time for granted.
And now were back! Back at the Doctors, back at the surgeries, back at the memories. I just try and think about how fast this last year has gone by and concentrate on the fact that maybe, hopefully, after just one more year, we will be done with it all.
I will keep posting on facebook and on here and what not. I think I will use this as a blog of some kind. It keeps my mind on something. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers over this long journey we have been on. It meas the world to us!
Hoping everyone out there is well,
Charlotte’s Mommy
Wendy Blevins
Pit Bull Attack Victim
This site is for the benefit of Charlotte Blevins, to aid with the future surgical procedures she will undergo along with any psychological issues that may come from the vicious pit bull attack in Omaha Nebraska on June 25th 2008.