Post-Surgery Update

Well, within a week of her surgery, a small hole worked it's way into Kate's palate. At first I hoped he had used black stitches, but then I realized it was receded upwards a bit (that's why it looked darker), and sure enough by the next day, there was a hole there. It's approximately where one of the two holes were before surgery, about the size of a pencil eraser, right behind her teeth. The other side looked like it was stressed, but was still intact.

Here we go again, with mentally going over the past 6 days; what could have gotten into her mouth?, did she eat anything other than liquids, yogurt & jello type things? Oh my gosh this is stressful! My heart is just pounding, phone call to Kevin crying...

It reminds me of that period when you have a little one who is learning to stand up and/or walk and it seems like everytime they try, they're falling and banging their head (or you're afraid they're going to) so you can't relax, because you're on alert. That's what the past week was like. Afraid that Kate would fall and hit her stitched up mouth and lip, or that one of our household Jedi's would bop her in the mouth with their constantly waving light sabers. Putting on her no-nos (velcro arm restraints) when she sleeps so no fingers make it into her mouth, and trying to feed 6 people out of sight of Kate. (She can only have liquids the first week, then only soft foods; eggs and such, for the next few weeks.) I'm beat. And to find out her palate opened up anyway.

The surgeon was disappointed but explained that he had closed it up on 2 layers (not sure if that's what he did in the first surgery?). Since there was no liquid coming out of her nose, he felt that the first, inside layer was probably still intact, and with any luck, the opening will close up on it's own. (I hope, I hope). Otherwise, he will probably just leave it until he does her bone graft when she is 8 or 9. At that time he will be working on the gumline.

I have heared this is very unusual, and for it to happen twice? Actually, not twice. This is Kate's third surgery (remember we found out they had closed her lip in China, and it had reopened) and all three times, her stitches have at least partially reopened. There's got to be something going on with her skin, or the way she heals.

I had actually planned this to be a really short post! Please pray with me that Kate's mouth heals up quickly and correctly. While she's very smart and she tries to speak, her speech is still quite unclear. Thanks! :)