The traffic became slower and more backed up the closer we got to downtown Denver. We took the HOV lane. Otherwise we would have never made it to the hospital in time. As it was, we were a couple of minutes late. Chris dropped Amy and I off at the front entrance and went to park the car. Amy and I headed for the second floor, though I had forgotten to bring the information explaining where we were supposed to go. We asked at one office and they quickly got us situated at the registration office. Once completed, we followed the blue footprints to Presurgery Area #3 and were settled in to room #5. Our first nurse, Debbie, came in to take Amy’s vitals, quickly followed by another nurse, Lori, who would be with us for awhile.
Because Amy was a little nervous about everything that was going to be happening to her, the Childlife Specialist, Jen, came in to talk with her. She showed her the oxygen mask that would be placed on Amy’s face to help her fall asleep. Amy got to smell the different flavors of anesthesia and pick out her favorite scent—watermelon. Jen showed her pictures of the operating room and explained what she might expect once arriving. Dr. Allshouse then stepped in to make sure that we were all set to go and didn’t have any questions. Our next visitor was Dr. Galinkin, the anesthesiologist, who also wanted to make sure we were comfortable with how the surgery would progress.
White jumpsuits similar to what Chris wore when I had my c-sections were brought in for both Chris and I to wear. So attractive. We got a few pictures, Amy went to the bathroom, and we were off around 9:30 am. We walked with the nurse toward operating room #14 and met Dr. Allshouse along the way. Amy had been nervous before but when we walked in to the operating room, she began to cry. My heart ached for my sweet little girl and the pain and craziness she had been through in the past months. We helped her climb on to the table as tears streamed down her checks. Dr. Galinkin place the face mask over Amy’s face and after 2 or 3 seconds, she was asleep. It wasn’t a happy way for me to see her because her face was in a grimace and tears were on her cheeks. Nevertheless, Chris and I kissed her and were then taken to the waiting room.
The surgery lasted for about one hour. Dr. Allshouse came to the waiting room to speak with us when he was finished. He brought pictures that had been taken of Amy's insides. He explained that she was doing well. Her stomach was still somewhat inflamed as would be expected 6 to 8 weeks after a rupture. The mass of infection was completely gone and the pictures clearly showed where her appendix had ruptured. She did have a small part of her appendix that was hidden behind her fallopian tubes. Dr. Allshouse explained that waiting as we did for the infection to clear was the best choice for Amy because the fallopian tubes showed some scar damage and if they had tried to remove the appendix prior to this time, she most likely would have had greater damage to her reproductive organs, possibly even losing an ovary in the process.
Three small incisions were made—one in her navel, and two tiny cuts lower in her groin area. The appendix was completely removed and the cut was sealed off. She shouldn’t have any more problems.
Amy was in recovery for about a half an hour before we were brought back to make sure that she was stable. We were finally brought back to her and told that she was still sleeping. They asked us to talk with her to help her wake up. The room was full of crying children of various ages in various stages of waking up. We walked to Amy’s gurney where she looked peaceful. I touch her forehead and said, “Hi sweetie” and immediately her eyes opened. We continued talking with her as she tried to keep her eyes open. I thought it was amazing that in the room full of so much noise and chaos, it was my voice and Chris’ voice that she responded to.
We stayed about ten more minutes in recovery and then moved back to Presurgery Area #3, this time to room 14. Her vitals were normal though she was having trouble staying alert. She would open her eyes for about 5 seconds and then drift off for about 30 seconds. She was given a dose of oxycodone with the anesthesiologist order requiring that she have a dose before being discharged. And, of course, a red slushee. Amy was awake for a short time and then the oxycodone knocked her out for a couple of hours. The nurses kept saying that she could go home if she would wake up and start breathing a little deeper.
Well, at 1 pm Chris and I finally decided to go get some lunch. She was still zonked when we came back and slept soundly for another hour. We were anxious to be on our way, but until Amy started waking up, we couldn’t do much. I felt badly for Rochelle who was watching Kristen because I didn’t think we would be gone for so long. She had also put Kristen down for a short nap in the morning and there was no chance that Kristen was going to take her normal 3-hour nap in the afternoon. Misha went to Dallin Lyon’s house after school and had a great time playing.
We finally put Shrek on for Amy to watch hoping that a more active movie might hold her attention and keep her wake for longer stretches. It seemed to work, though Amy still wasn’t wanting to leave the hospital at 3:15 pm when the nurse finally discharged her. I rode in the back with Amy on the way home and fortunately had her hold the little barf container. She threw up a small amount about 15 minutes into our ride home. Poor thing. We got back to Firestone around 4 pm and went first to pick up Kristen, She was outside playing with Rochelle’s kids and was very happy to see me. Misha was next. She was having a super time and still wasn’t ready to come home, but was also happy to see Amy. We stopped first at Soopers to pick up medication and popsicles for Amy but they didn’t have the right medication. So I bought the popsicles, and when I got out to the van Amy had thrown up quite a bit, Chris dumped it in the parking lot. We hurried over to Walgreens and dropped the prescription off at the drive through so that Chris could then take us home and come back when it was ready.
Chris carried Amy into the house and got her resting comfortably on the couch. The rest of the evening, however, was filled with Amy throwing up two or three more times. Fortunately I put sheets under her. Kristen or Misha had played with the barf bowl and moved it out of Amy’s reached and she threw up all over the blankets. After that I carried her upstairs to the guest room and got her situated for the rest of the evening. I think we only had one more throwing up episode there.
I did call the nurse line at the hospital later that evening. Amy hadn’t peed all day long, and I just wanted to make sure that was normal. They said if she didn’t pee by the morning to call them back.
Chris got up with Amy the next morning to take her to the bathroom around 6 am. She walked into the bathroom as he helped her which was fantastic. She hadn’t wanted to try walking at all the day before—but who can blame her.
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