putingCRV2005

Good news everybody! My baby girl Katrina’s surgery in repairing her cleft lip and rhinoplasty went very well. My husband-VJ and I are so glad and happy about it.

Children’s Hospital admitted Kate at their Surgery Center around 6:45AM of September 15, 2005. It was a busy day so despite our 6:30AM appointment, Kate was checked in 15 minutes late. Before the procedure started, she had to undergo a couple of testing to see if she is still healthy enough for the operation. They also gave us her hospital things including a cute little hospital gown which we put on her right away.

Kate was so cute with that gown! She also seemed to be very energetic and ready for what she has to go through that day. That the night before the 15^th, she had her “dinner” and slept early and peacefully through the night. She woke up at 4:00AM, earlier than me and VJ as we were supposed to be up by 4:30AM.

Her anesthesiologists took her from my arms around 7:45AM. He asked if me and VJ have some things to say to her before they bring her in the operating room. VJ and I both kissed her and told her how much we love her and that God will be with her throughout the surgery. That was it…they took her and by the time they reached the operating room, she started crying. They shut the door then, leaving me and VJ clueless of what to do next in the testing room.

We decided to go to the Church Chapel and said some more prayers for our daughter. I even opened up a bible and see what God would like to tell me at that time, and this was what He has given me:

Zechariah 13: Mourning for the Pierced One

On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David

and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

…after that, we went to the Family Resource Center and had some coffee. VJ read the papers while I checked on my email, seeing that I had a handful of good response from friends whom I sent a message and requested to pray for my daughter. They were all feel-good messages, which I am sure people like me and my husband would need in these times.

By 9:30AM, we received a message through the pager that the hospital provided, saying we should head back to the Surgery Center. So we hurriedly went back there and the receptionist lead us to an exam room and told us to wait for Kate’s surgeon, Dr. Richard Hopper to come and see us.

We waited for about 45 minutes. Until finally Dr. Hopper arrived, happily informing us that the surgery went very well. Kate was then staying in the recovery room, half-awake, half-asleep. Well, that’s due to the vapor anesthesia they gave her. He also said that she has finished all the Pedialite that they gave her. (She must be starving a lot, considering that her last meal was at 2:30AM).

As instructed by Dr. Hopper, we went back to the receptionist and requested for a room.

At room G3017, we waited for another 30 minutes for Kate to arrive from her recovery room.

Finally, Kate has arrived…

I couldn’t help it but breakdown in VJ‘s arms, seeing her having to go through a lot at her young age and worrying about the pain she will feel in the next few days during her recovery.

VJ and the nurses comforted me as Kate also began crying. One of the nurses offered to bring her in my arms where Kate found it comfortable as I also breastfed her. As usual (Kate being easy to be fed ever since she was born), she drank her breast milk as if she didn’t care about the odd feeling that her “new lip” is bringing her. Well at first, I had to try a couple of attempts for her to latch because her lips were still numb.

That day was indeed a long one for all three of us. Kate would struggle with us and her nurses every time we’d give her her pain medications but all in all, she was doing ok.

I phoned my folks and brother back in Manila the next morning. They were happy and glad as I am when they learned how Kate did well in her surgery. And I in return, also thanked them as I know they have prayed hard for Kate.

By 11:30AM, we were discharged from the hospital. (We also had to wait until she had a bowel movement after her nurse put in her first suppository as she had not done it since Tuesday, Sep13). With these nursing discharge summary from Kate’s doctors and nurses, we felt more proud of her:

Patient admitted to surgical unit after repair of cleft lip and rhinoplasty.

Patient received IV fluid and advanced to a regular diet. Patient received

Tylenol with Codiene and Ketorlac for pain control voiding without

difficulty.

I know that a lot of my family and friends have prayed and hoped for Kate’s safe surgery, reason why I am writing this. I would just like to thank everybody who took their time despite their busy lives in praying for my Baby Kate and who shared comforting messages to me and VJ.

I promise to regularly share pictures of Kate so we all could witness how lovelier she will be as she grows up.