June 29, 2005 @ 3:18 pm | Filed under: Family Adventures, Special Needs Children, Wonderboy
People have been writing to ask where I’ve been lately. Waiting rooms, mainly.
In May I wrote about the roller coaster spring we were having—well, ha. Turns out that was just the kiddie-park ride. Wonderboy was just warming up for the big loop-de-loop. Nosebleeds, thrush, my little adventure with a tick…small potatoes. I’ll see your tick bite and raise you pneumonia, mom…
But that’s jumping ahead. First there was the skull fracture. (Sometimes I can’t even believe I type sentences like that one. I remember a time when the too-close clipping of infant Jane’s fingernails seemed high tragedy.) Wonderboy is walking all over the place, hooray! But his protective arm reflexes are poor, oh no! When he tumbles, as toddlers do, he sometimes hits his head. One of those times, the physics (so our neurosurgeon informed me) were perfect to crack his skull. A small crack. A linear crack, the simplest kind. Don’t worry, the neurosurgeon informed me. It’ll heal on its own, happens all the time.
Ohhhhhhkay.
A few days later, I’m changing Wonderboy’s diaper and oh no. Can’t believe my eyes. I could swear his hernia is back. This would be the hernia that was surgically repaired over a year ago. Less than a 1% recurrence rate, according to Google. Which means OF COURSE it’s back.
One all-day ER visit later, the hernia has been temporarily reduced (it pops back out the next morning) and—surprise—a precautionary chest x-ray (since he also had a fever) reveals that he has pneumonia. Triple whammy!
By this point, it’s early June and we have already canceled our long-awaited trip to New York to celebrate Jane’s 10th birthday with her best friends. This decision, while crushingly disappointing, turns out to have been a blessing, because otherwise we would have been sitting on the Jersey Turnpike with a baby with a mysteriously recurring hernia and, oh yeah, pneumonia.
The chaos of the next few days causes us to also cancel a long-awaited visit from two terrific teenage girls, daughters of friends of mine. This is a huge blow. We had all sorts of fun Virginia sightseeing planned. But the painful decision turns out to be a wise one, because that week too was filled with back-and-forths to various area hospitals. (You don’t even want to get me started on the insurance/out-of-network hospital mess.) Was that just last week? No, wait, it was the week before last. Right.
So where are we now. The pneumonia is gone, hooray. The swelling from the head injury has mostly gone down. But the hernia is well and truly back. There’s another surgery on the immediate horizon. A second procedure will be performed at the same time, because unfortunately the skin around Wonderboy’s protruding coccyx is beginning to break down. We knew the tailbone would probably need to be removed someday but we were hoping it could wait until he was a little older (and fatter). Right now surgery is scheduled for mid-July.
I’m writing a book in my head in the waiting rooms. At this point I could write a book ABOUT waiting rooms. Except I’d much rather write about Wonderboy and his sisters. And roller coaster rides.
P.S. If you’ve emailed me lately and I haven’t answered yet, all of the above is why! I’m slowly getting caught back up, though. Really! Receive comment replies via email.
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Oh gosh, Lissa! I sorta knew but didn’t realize the whole story. I hope you and the family can take a breather. Will be praying for the next op.
Posted on June 30th, 2005 at 10:04 pmLissa, big hugs coming your way. Way a cross youare bearing for that beloved little Wonderboy.
Posted on July 1st, 2005 at 8:42 amGod Bless, Meredith
OOps guess I should have previewed that one. It was supposed to say What a cross you are bearing for that beloved Wonderboy! Anyway take care. Will be praying for the upcoming surgery. Meredith
Posted on July 1st, 2005 at 8:46 amSorry to hear about all of the baby’s ilnesses/injuries. We will be praying for you.
Posted on July 1st, 2005 at 10:58 amhi lissa, i lurk here from time to time and love all the updates you post about little Stevie. we keep you in our prayers.
Posted on July 1st, 2005 at 11:21 amMargaret in Minnesota says:
Responding to your e-mails should be the least of your worries. I mean it, now–stop it!
We will take your intentions to our beautiful Blessed Mother in prayer, light a candle, join our hearts to yours. God is so good and yet, when it comes to an unexpected illness (or three) thrown our way, Mysterious.
“Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.”
Jesus said, “Come.”
So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus, but when he saw the wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him (Mt 14:28-31).
Love & Blessings from your cyber-sister,
Margaret
Posted on August 7th, 2006 at 12:30 pm