Surgery Complete

Well what can I say?  Mason is a real trooper.  He is seriously such a sweetheart.  Things went really well.

Chris woke up Mason at about 5:15.  We explained to him right away what was happening.  Poor little guy just sat there listening and I know he didn't like what he was hearing....obviously.  He cried a little bit and I don't blame him at all.  It seriously broke my heart telling him what was about to happen and it took every ounce of strength to not break down crying right there in front of him.  We knew how important it was to be strong so that Mason knew everything was going to be ok.  We gave him his special new gift (a gold dragon with sparkly wings from Barnes and Noble) and we got a smile out of him with that.  Got him dressed in a special new green dinosaur shirt with googly eyes from Grandma Tanner, said a prayer, and we were on our way.  I sat in back with Mason in the car and he was very quiet during the 50 minute drive down to the medical center.  We got there and things moved pretty quickly.  We changed him into his gown and waited to talk to the doctors.  He was nervous and quiet.  We did act silly and got some giggles out of him though as we waited.  He liked that Chris got to wear some funny clothes also.

 

After discussing everything with the nurse, the surgeon, and the anesthesiologist, the nurse came out to get Mason and Chris.  It was time.  I just sat there and waited.  About 5 minutes later, Chris came out with tears in his eyes and explained what happened.  He told me that they went in and everything went perfectly.  All of the doctors gathered around the operating table and Chris was at Mason's head.  They put the mask on Mason's face and Mason lied there very calmly looking at Chris and slowly his eyes rolled back in his head.  Knowing how scared he was, how sweet that there he lied putting all of his trust and faith in Chris that this was what he needed to do.  Good thing Chris was the one who went in because I would have lost it.  There is nothing like giving up your child like that and hope and pray that everything goes well....no matter how routine the surgery may be.  It's too hard to even put into words the emotions I felt at that time.  

The surgeon was Dr. Broberg.  We were lucky to actually know our surgeon.  We were in the same ward at church with him a few years ago.  Super nice guy.  He walked Chris to the door and gave him a hug before Chris left the operating room.  Chris and I sat and waited.  We snacked on a crumbled strawberry pop tart.  The surgery lasted only a half hour.  Dr. Broberg came out and said that everything went really well.  His tonsils and adenoids were very large and could definitely cause breathing difficulties so it's super good they are out.  There was very little bleeding.  He said his ears had a lot of fluid in them and now it's all gone.  Great news.  The nurse came out right after and told us Mason was ready for us to come in.

I couldn't wait to get in there and see our little guy.  The doctors ahead of time warned us that it's very common for kids, even the calmest kids like Mason, to act hysterical after a surgery while coming out of the anesthesia.  So we were prepared for that.  But Mason acted....like we imagined Mason would.  Not hysterical or screaming or flailing like they said he probably would.  He was crying a little bit and looked confused and sad and was trying to sit up when we got in there.  They said right away I could hold him so I grabbed him and it felt so good to have him in my arms.  They gave me a chair to sit in and Chris sat next to us.  Once again, a flood of emotions.  We were just so grateful everything went well and that he was back safe with us.

  

The nurse kept commenting how cozy and comfortable he looked in my arms.  He started crying a little bit.  I asked what was wrong and he said his throat hurt.  The nurse heard and said she would give him more meds right away.  About 5 minutes later he said he felt better.  While Mason and I sat there, Chris went down to the pharmacy to get his pain medication and ear drops.  Once he was back it was only maybe a half hour or so before they took out Mason's IV and said we were good to go.  Mason needed to be able to either suck on a popsicle or drink some juice before we could leave.  He took one lick of a popsicle and took maybe 2 sips of apple juice and apparently that was good enough because they said to change him back into his clothes and we were good to go.  

Chris sat in back with Mason on the way home.  He was still pretty drugged at that time and looked pretty out of it.  He fell asleep on the way home.  

We knew we had a long road ahead with his recovery but just SO thankful at that moment that that huge part was over and done and everything had gone well.