Last Wednesday we went to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Amelie’s cast removal. This video has footage from before her surgery, an interview with the cast on and the day the cast came off and we saw her new fingers for the first time.
Amelie’s 3rd Surgery
On Monday May 6th we got a call in the afternoon from Scottish Rite letting us know that they had a cancellation for Friday morning and we jumped at the chance to have Amelie’s right hand worked on. I told Amelie about the upcoming surgery and the first thing she said was, “Dat’s cool.” I asked her how it made her feel that they were going to try and make her some new fingers. She said, “Dat makes me happy.” I told her she would have to wear a cast again and she said, “Dat’s okay mama. Maybe I can get a toy!”
Our friend Sarah came over early in the morning to pick up Nadia to keep her for the day and that was a big relief. Our pastor Darwin came up to the hospital to pray for Amelie right before they started to prep her for surgery which was also very sweet. We had the same day surgery nurse and were in the same spot for the prior 2 surgeries so everything was very familiar and we were ready to roll. Amelie just wanted to confirm “no pin” and “new fingers” and she was ready to go.
They gave her another Raggedy Ann doll to add to her collection. When they gave her the “goofy juice” to help her relax they also put the side bar up and she said, “Now I SAFE!”
This was after the surgeon and anesthesiologist had come by the confirm everything and she was starting to act really silly and saying all kinds of funny stuff from the “goofy juice” which she told us tastes disgusting.
This was shortly before they rolled her back and we headed to the Crayon Cafe to have breakfast.
Amelie loves elephants and while we were waiting we found this cute guy in the gift shop. We also talked to the surgeon and she showed us a few photos of Amelie’s hand before they put the cast on. I teared up a little seeing those 3 new fingers.
Once out of recovery she was awake just long enough to snuggle up to this guy and go back to sleep.
At this point she was doing a lot better and coming out of the haze. A little while later her pain meds and antibiotics were ready in the pharmacy and we packed up to head home. She fell asleep so we headed straight over to Sarah’s house to pick up Nadia. I had sent a little surprise package with her with 4 new costumes I had picked up on clearance so her and Sarah’s girls could play dress up. Amelie wanted to see them when we got home and asked so sweetly if she could be a ladybug. It’s a good thing it was so stretchy and went over the cast.
She was woozy from the meds and Nadia read her books until nap time. The rest of the evening was fine and she didn’t seem too uncomfortable. She took the cast in stride, but the pressure bandage on her skin graft site really bothered her and she kept picking at it over and over.
*On a side note, all the hand surgeons at Scottish Rite are amazing and they travel the world training people and doctors come to Texas to be trained by them. When you schedule a surgery you don’t know who you are going to get, but you can be sure they will be good. When they put my parent hospital band on and I saw Dr. Ezaki on there I started to cry a little because she is like a ROCK STAR in hand surgery circles. The only other time we have ever even seen her was when she did the release of Amelie’s left hand in April 2011. It was thrilled and after she showed us the photos she took I danced a jig in the middle of our waiting area.
Amelie and Scissors
Back in 2010 on the day we got Amelie’s referral a random thing happened. We got her file and were scrolling through it on the computer and in my head I thought, “Great. We can adopt her, she’s so cute, her hands aren’t really a special need, but HOW in the world will I teach her how to use scissors?”
Now trust me, I understand that I was totally hyped up from waiting and knowing that this would be the day we would be matched and it was all so exciting and that affected my thoughts so randomly. But the problem was that I didn’t say anything out loud. So after who knows how long Mike says, “Louanne, are you going to say something? Are we going to adopt her?”And I am like, “OF COURSE! Yes, sorry, I was thinking about scissors.” I instantly felt bad that I was ready to go get her tomorrow, but left Mike hanging there wondering.
Fast forward to last year and I am thinking about working with Amelie on new fine motor skill practice like scissors and that kind of thing. Being the supply loving person I am, I start checking out scissors everywhere. And I buy various types of “special” scissors. Some that are supposed to help toddlers or people with hand issues or whatever.
Turns out all it was all a waste of time and money. She does an awesome job with plain old school scissors that I picked up on an extra buck deal from CVS.
I am sure there is a lesson here for me on worrying 🙂
Amelie’s Cast Removal 2013
Here is a video from this week when Amelie got her cast removed. I have another post with photos and information coming soon. PS. it gets happier by the end.