All changed into the hospital PJ's. Such cute clowns and elephants don't you think?
One last picture of the tissue expanders. The front one held about 250ml and the back about 350ml. Emilia affectionately referred to them as her "water-bed-in-my-head".
Here, Emilia sat with her Grammy showing off the special slippers we bought just for this occasion. Shoes (or slippers in this case) always make a girl happy!
There is always lots of time to wait in the hospital. Emilia had chosen to bring Felicity's Art Studio to help pass the time.
Emilia had brought along the doll she had made with Child Life before the surgery in October. A very nice nurse also gave her a new panda bear. She quickly chose the name Timmy for him.
There is A LOT of time to wait.
Emilia managed to entertain herself by dancing around the room and being silly.
...very silly.
FInally taking a break from the silliness and snuggling up with Grammy.
Wheeled into the pre-op holding area after given the pre-med.
Emilia went from being really tired...
To really goofy...
to really tired. One moment she would be half asleep, the next telling jokes and laughing hysterically.
Surgery took about three hours. A little longer than expected, but things went well.
Somehow, Emilia managed to eat two entire popsicles in a sleep-like state.
It didn't matter if it looked like she was completely asleep. Each time I tried to set the popsicle down she would tighten her grip and put it back in her mouth.
As she drifted in and out of sleep, Emilia would suck on her tongue just like when she was a baby
All dressed and ready to go home that evening.
We had only gotten a couple of blocks from the hospital when Emilia began getting sick in the back of Grammy's car. Grammy climbed over the seat and helped clean her up a little and held Emi's head the entire ride home. Poor Grammy had to sit in yucky puke all the way home. Now that is LOVE!
Emilia is continuing to do well. She has had some discomfort but no severe pain. What a blessing and answer to prayers! She will have the drain tubes and dressings until we return to the surgeon's office on Monday. I can't wait to see the results!
May I ask why she needed the expanders? My daughter is going thru tissue expanders @ loyola in chicago from a burn she suffered @ 2 mo of age. Her expanders are on her head too. Can you tell me how it went. I would love to know. Its hard to find some one who have been thru this process.
Posted by: AmyGamache | 05/09/2010 at 07:56 PM
Emilia had/has extensive scarring as a result of an ulcerated hemangioma (a vascular birthmark that developed open wounds). She has had multiple reconstructive surgeries. This was actually her second round of tissue expanders the first being just before she turned three. We live in the Chicago-land area and have received treatment at multiple facilities. If you have specific questions or would like to talk or even see additional pictures, please leave me your email address. -Blessings!
Posted by: My Simple Delights | 05/09/2010 at 10:09 PM
My email is amy.gamache@yahoo.com Please send me an email and if you dont mind I have tons of questions about the process and the end result.
Posted by: AmyGamache | 05/18/2010 at 09:40 PM
I also leave my email adelajdi@gmail.com
I'm thinking of surgery with the use of tissue expanders and I would like to ask you about the clinic and more.
I would appreciate your contact.
Posted by: Ada Adelajdi | 04/10/2011 at 03:19 PM
Hi I am just curious how she is doing ? I am a father of a 18th month old and was randomly searching the internet for cute clowns... who would have thought it would have brought me here... Prayers are with you...
Tim
Posted by: Bfclek17 | 05/29/2011 at 12:04 AM
My email is bfclek17@yahoo.com
Posted by: Bfclek17 | 05/29/2011 at 12:04 AM