Well, it has been many months since I have updated this blog but I know that the word is out that Emma is preparing for another major surgery and some of you are wondering what is going on. So, here it is.
Over the past years Emma's spine curve has been steadily increasing. She is now over 80 degrees curved in her thorasic spine and I believe the lumbar curve is over 60 degrees. This has not been a surprise to us or Emma's surgeons as this is a typical progression of scoliosis and they had told us from the start that it would worsen as she grew. She has progressed now to a level where the surgeons want to intervene to protect her internal organs from damage. The S curve she has makes her quite compressed and they do not want her lungs and heart etc to suffer damage from lack of room. So, Emma is scheduled to have this delt with on July 19th Lord willing.
Yesterday we spent the day at Children's going through pre op. This, just like before consists of meeting with the nurses, physio, anasthetic, having blood work done, doing pulmunary function tests, signing paperwork and seeing her surgeon. Everything went smoothly and we met some of the same people that we saw before Emma's last surgery in 2008.
The scope of her surgery (I appologize if you are squeemish.) is to surgically lessen the curve in Emma's thorasic and possibly the top one or two lumbar vertebra. They will do this by removing some bone around her genetic defects that consist of a couple of verteba that are naturally fused together to help to provide a bit of mobility there before he does the surgical fusion as the birth defect fusions in her spine are not the type of fusion that he is trying to achieve. There is another hemi-vertebra that will need to have some bone removed as well. Then, he will try to straigten out the top 80 degree curve as much as possible without compromising the integrity of her spinal chord. He won't know how much this will be until he is in there. We are happy that the Dr. anticipates that her bottom curve will follow suite and that surgery will not be required in that area. We are hopeful that this is the case but again, he will not know for sure until he is doing the surgery. Then they will fuse her thorasic spine using bone which will hopefully grow together. To hold it all in place they will use pins and rods but it is the bone fusion that is essential for a successful surgery. (There is a slim possibility of a failed fusion which could cause the rods to break because believe it or not it is the bone fusing that provide the stability that is neccessary. The Dr. describes the pins and rods as a cast but it is the strength of that the bone growing together that gives Emma the stability she needs.)The surgery is expected to take somewhere between 6 and 10 hours.
Emma will be in hospital for 5 to 7 days depending on how fast she recovers but she is a bit of an overachiever so she will likely get to go home day 5 or so. I will be staying with her in hospital during that time and my mom will look after our other kids when Keith can't be here.
Some of you have asked how you could pray:
1. Please pray for Emma and our family's health over the next few weeks. Emma will not be able to have the surgery if she is sick.
2. For a peace that passes all understanding for Emma and for our family.
3. For our kids and their grandma who will be looking after them.
4. For the surgeon and others that will be helping with her surgery. For wisdom, health and a good night's sleep before the surgery.
5. For a success both in the taking of the fusion and the best possible outcome for Emma.
6.For God to be glorified.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." 1Pet. 4:12-13
Thank you all so much for your prayers and love and care for our family.
Love the Grooms
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Accepting God's Plan
Monday was a full, full day in the Groom household. Sometimes I am amazed at the pace we keep here. No wonder I often crash hard in the evenings. In the morning we made the hour plus treck out to Children's for Emma's 6 monthe checkup which I think was technically more than 6 months. (I am always amazed that it feels like we have just been there yet, another 6 months have passed.
It was not our regular clinic day becaus a few days earlier the hospital had called and asked us to come a day early due to a surgery that her surgeon had to do on Tuesday. Tuesday in ortho at Children's is always the spine clinic. I'm not sure what Monday is, but it was packed! We had to wait 20 minutes to check in! I was thankful for the Disney movie that was playing the X-ray waiting room because on this particular day I had to take Karys and Naomi with us. I had packed school work to do with them but it was so busy that there was no where to work.
Eventually, we got out of X-ray into the other waiting room and in to see Emma's surgeon. He asked a few questions about Emma's physical activies, any changes and how she was feeling in general. She has been well and has been do lyrical dance (She won a year of lessons with a great essay she wrote!), joined the school dragon boat team, and started Taekwondo with the other kids in January! On a good note, her prior fusion "looks great", and the other area of previous concern remains stable and has not changed since last time. Her upper curve has increase almost 10 degrees to 75 degrees and her lower curve is now 53 degrees. She also has a small curve near the very top going the opposite way of the 75 degree one. A true S! Anyhow, her surgeon noted that 10 degrees in 6 months is quite significant which I knew though this increase was not unexpected as he did say that she would get worse as she grew. She has only grown 1/2 cm since last visit but most of her growth has shown in her curvature. He told us that normally at once someone gets to 50 degrees they begin to look at surgical options for straightening but because of her S they feel that if they striaghten out the worst of her curve near the top that she will appear much more crooked than she does now. This would make her X-ray look straight but her body look more crooked. Right now the 3 curvatures are compensating for each other which makes her appear to the eye less crooked than she is. So, her Dr. feels that now we are looking less at straightening her out in the future and more at prohibiting the the curves from getting worse. If, when we go back in 6 months she has increased in curvature another significant amout they will have to intervene and do surgery to prevent her from getting any worse. They are concerned about her lung capacity and will perform a lung capacity test at that time to make sure her curvature is not affecting her breathing. In the mean time he said to watch for any noticable shortness of breath etc. Emma's Dr., who we love, was kind to fill out Emma's papers for her therepeudic riding so she can begin that in the summer. We will see him again in 6 months.
If you have been following Emma's blog for some time, you will know that we (including the Dr.) were optimistic that Emma could be straightened out quite significantly at some point when she stopped growing. The news we got this visit seems as though that is no longer the road to be taken. Emma didn't seem to mind the news but I on the other hand feel sad for her. As a mom, I want what is best for her. I want her to have the opportunity to live in a straight body, to grow taller, to carry babies without pain, to be able to live a full life. I found this, probably one of the hardest visits at Children's. I know I have to let go of those plans I have for her and embace the one that God has for her.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11
It was not our regular clinic day becaus a few days earlier the hospital had called and asked us to come a day early due to a surgery that her surgeon had to do on Tuesday. Tuesday in ortho at Children's is always the spine clinic. I'm not sure what Monday is, but it was packed! We had to wait 20 minutes to check in! I was thankful for the Disney movie that was playing the X-ray waiting room because on this particular day I had to take Karys and Naomi with us. I had packed school work to do with them but it was so busy that there was no where to work.
Eventually, we got out of X-ray into the other waiting room and in to see Emma's surgeon. He asked a few questions about Emma's physical activies, any changes and how she was feeling in general. She has been well and has been do lyrical dance (She won a year of lessons with a great essay she wrote!), joined the school dragon boat team, and started Taekwondo with the other kids in January! On a good note, her prior fusion "looks great", and the other area of previous concern remains stable and has not changed since last time. Her upper curve has increase almost 10 degrees to 75 degrees and her lower curve is now 53 degrees. She also has a small curve near the very top going the opposite way of the 75 degree one. A true S! Anyhow, her surgeon noted that 10 degrees in 6 months is quite significant which I knew though this increase was not unexpected as he did say that she would get worse as she grew. She has only grown 1/2 cm since last visit but most of her growth has shown in her curvature. He told us that normally at once someone gets to 50 degrees they begin to look at surgical options for straightening but because of her S they feel that if they striaghten out the worst of her curve near the top that she will appear much more crooked than she does now. This would make her X-ray look straight but her body look more crooked. Right now the 3 curvatures are compensating for each other which makes her appear to the eye less crooked than she is. So, her Dr. feels that now we are looking less at straightening her out in the future and more at prohibiting the the curves from getting worse. If, when we go back in 6 months she has increased in curvature another significant amout they will have to intervene and do surgery to prevent her from getting any worse. They are concerned about her lung capacity and will perform a lung capacity test at that time to make sure her curvature is not affecting her breathing. In the mean time he said to watch for any noticable shortness of breath etc. Emma's Dr., who we love, was kind to fill out Emma's papers for her therepeudic riding so she can begin that in the summer. We will see him again in 6 months.
If you have been following Emma's blog for some time, you will know that we (including the Dr.) were optimistic that Emma could be straightened out quite significantly at some point when she stopped growing. The news we got this visit seems as though that is no longer the road to be taken. Emma didn't seem to mind the news but I on the other hand feel sad for her. As a mom, I want what is best for her. I want her to have the opportunity to live in a straight body, to grow taller, to carry babies without pain, to be able to live a full life. I found this, probably one of the hardest visits at Children's. I know I have to let go of those plans I have for her and embace the one that God has for her.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11
Sunday, July 18, 2010
CT - A View of the Inside!
On Thursday this week Emma had a CT scan that her surgeon had ordered after he cancelled her surgery. It was uneventful, though Emma and I had the opportunity to view her pictures and to learn how a CT scan works. Interesting! We will be having a follow up with her Dr. on August 24th to discuss the results. We are enjoing our summer neck brace free and one little thing I am personally thankful for is that I am not trying to wash Emma's hair with her laying on the kitchen counter on her back for the next few weeks! So, so greatful for God's blessing!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Healing, an unexpected gift!
Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
This has been an amazing day! This verse has been running through my mind for the past few hours. This morning Emma and I headed out for an 11am. Pre-op appointment where they prepare her for her upcoming surgery scheduled for next Friday July 9th. We checked in and went to our usual first stop, X-rays. We waited there as usual and after a while Emma was called in for her turn. We then proceeded to the ortho waiting room where we waited to see Emma's surgeon. Dr. M. came to see us, chatted a bit, examined Emma and took a look at her X-Rays. As he was looking them over he said, "You know, this doesn't look as bad as it did. If this has improved the way that it appears that it has, we won't be doing this surgery! I would like a couple of different views of her spine and then we'll decide." Well, this sent Emma off the deep end! she was so excited that she might not have to have this surgery. I was cautious and telling her not to get too excited just in case. We went back to radiology and had the other X-rays, then back to see the Dr. This time, another surgeon who has seen Emma as well came in with a student to examine her case and X-rays. They were not at this time aware that Dr. M was looking at not doing the surgery. I brought them up to date and they chatted it over. Dr. M was still busy with another patient. After a few minutes, they left the room and we could hear them chatting about Emma out of our sight. We couldn't quite hear, or understand for that matter exactly what they were saying. Another few minutes passed and Dr.M, the student Dr. and the ortho nurse all came into the room. Dr.M. calmly stated, "We are not doing the surgery." And then he went on to expain and show us why. I'll try to recap in my uneducated language here. The reason Emma was having the surgery is due to something I affectionately call "the hinge". Below her last fusion (C1 to C4) she also has a natural (or unnatural, however you want to look at it...she was born with it.) fusion which joins C5 to C6. This left motion between C4 and C5. Motion is good, however in her case she was hyper extending which the Dr.'s called "unstable". This meant that she was at great risk of injury and also that over use could damage her spinal chord because of the unusual extention of her vertebra. The Dr. showed me on the X-ray a disk at C5 that is worn down because she has apparently had the hyper-extention since birth and it was exasperated by the last surgery. Today however, this "hinge" fell within the "normal" range. Enough so that they said that she has gone from unstable to stable. The last scan she had was in April, and that is the one that made the Dr's say, "it's time, we have waited long enough, we have to do something about this." Today, there was no cause for concern and she no longer needs the surgery. Amazed? I am dumbfounded to say the least, it gave me shivers. I asked Dr. M before we left, "Have you ever seen something like this happen before?" He asked me, "You mean vertebra going from this kind of unstabilty to stable? No, I've never seen this before." He then asked me if I had any questions. I was speachless. I just kept saying to Emma, "This is crazy!" I still am processing all of this and feel a little like I'm in shock.
After calling Keith, I spoke to my sister-in-law Megan. She said, "what an answer to prayer." And I said to her, "We never even asked for this!" It is more that an answer to prayer. We were praying for Emma's safety before, during and after her surgery. Not for healing. It just shows how we don't know what we need and God does. How, He gives us gifts that we don't deserve just because He loves us. It reminds that we are always in His sight and that He is actively involved in each of our lives. His hand has touched Emma's body. He has taken what he created and changed it for the better with greater craftmanship than even the best surgeon in the world could have. For Emma, for our family, for our church family, for friends, for the Dr's, and all those who hear this story.
Psalm 103
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits---
who forgives all you sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear
him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust,
As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and it's place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him.
and his righteousness with their children's children--
with those who keep his covenant
and rememver to obey his precepts.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you servants who do his will.
Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I will post a short update soon. There is a little more to what happened today and what the future holds for Emma....but hey, who knows, after today, I am reminded that God's ways are not our ways. Anything is possible.
Thank you Lord!
And, thanks to all of you for your many prayers!
We love you!
Corinna and family.
This has been an amazing day! This verse has been running through my mind for the past few hours. This morning Emma and I headed out for an 11am. Pre-op appointment where they prepare her for her upcoming surgery scheduled for next Friday July 9th. We checked in and went to our usual first stop, X-rays. We waited there as usual and after a while Emma was called in for her turn. We then proceeded to the ortho waiting room where we waited to see Emma's surgeon. Dr. M. came to see us, chatted a bit, examined Emma and took a look at her X-Rays. As he was looking them over he said, "You know, this doesn't look as bad as it did. If this has improved the way that it appears that it has, we won't be doing this surgery! I would like a couple of different views of her spine and then we'll decide." Well, this sent Emma off the deep end! she was so excited that she might not have to have this surgery. I was cautious and telling her not to get too excited just in case. We went back to radiology and had the other X-rays, then back to see the Dr. This time, another surgeon who has seen Emma as well came in with a student to examine her case and X-rays. They were not at this time aware that Dr. M was looking at not doing the surgery. I brought them up to date and they chatted it over. Dr. M was still busy with another patient. After a few minutes, they left the room and we could hear them chatting about Emma out of our sight. We couldn't quite hear, or understand for that matter exactly what they were saying. Another few minutes passed and Dr.M, the student Dr. and the ortho nurse all came into the room. Dr.M. calmly stated, "We are not doing the surgery." And then he went on to expain and show us why. I'll try to recap in my uneducated language here. The reason Emma was having the surgery is due to something I affectionately call "the hinge". Below her last fusion (C1 to C4) she also has a natural (or unnatural, however you want to look at it...she was born with it.) fusion which joins C5 to C6. This left motion between C4 and C5. Motion is good, however in her case she was hyper extending which the Dr.'s called "unstable". This meant that she was at great risk of injury and also that over use could damage her spinal chord because of the unusual extention of her vertebra. The Dr. showed me on the X-ray a disk at C5 that is worn down because she has apparently had the hyper-extention since birth and it was exasperated by the last surgery. Today however, this "hinge" fell within the "normal" range. Enough so that they said that she has gone from unstable to stable. The last scan she had was in April, and that is the one that made the Dr's say, "it's time, we have waited long enough, we have to do something about this." Today, there was no cause for concern and she no longer needs the surgery. Amazed? I am dumbfounded to say the least, it gave me shivers. I asked Dr. M before we left, "Have you ever seen something like this happen before?" He asked me, "You mean vertebra going from this kind of unstabilty to stable? No, I've never seen this before." He then asked me if I had any questions. I was speachless. I just kept saying to Emma, "This is crazy!" I still am processing all of this and feel a little like I'm in shock.
After calling Keith, I spoke to my sister-in-law Megan. She said, "what an answer to prayer." And I said to her, "We never even asked for this!" It is more that an answer to prayer. We were praying for Emma's safety before, during and after her surgery. Not for healing. It just shows how we don't know what we need and God does. How, He gives us gifts that we don't deserve just because He loves us. It reminds that we are always in His sight and that He is actively involved in each of our lives. His hand has touched Emma's body. He has taken what he created and changed it for the better with greater craftmanship than even the best surgeon in the world could have. For Emma, for our family, for our church family, for friends, for the Dr's, and all those who hear this story.
Psalm 103
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits---
who forgives all you sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear
him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust,
As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and it's place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him.
and his righteousness with their children's children--
with those who keep his covenant
and rememver to obey his precepts.
The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you servants who do his will.
Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I will post a short update soon. There is a little more to what happened today and what the future holds for Emma....but hey, who knows, after today, I am reminded that God's ways are not our ways. Anything is possible.
Thank you Lord!
And, thanks to all of you for your many prayers!
We love you!
Corinna and family.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Upcoming Surgery
Well, the day is drawing near. We are starting to think about and prepare for Emma's next spine surgery. She is scheduled for July 9th and will be attending her pre-op this coming Tues. June 29th. We are on our way.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
A New Chapter in Emma's Spine Story
Wow! I haven't had anything to add to Emma's blog since April of last year. I guess that is a good thing as the Lord and kept and preserved Emma as she has enjoyed life being 11 and has been actively training her new dog for agility! She loves her puppy Penny and she has been a source of activity and pleasure for Emma.
The last time we saw Emma's Dr. was in July and he said that things were steady and holding so I didn't really have any new news to share.
Yesterday was Emma's 6 month check up with the surgeon. When we arrived she had her normal xrays and then we waited to see the surgeon. We weren't really sure which of the two Dr's she would see but the surgeon who actully did her surgery came in to see her. Emma was happy about that because she likes him better than the other Dr. He just seems to have a nicer bed side manner which makes him a little easier to talk to. (I think Emma has a little crush on him too)
He carefully examined her xrays as ususal and was taking longer than he regularly does comparing xrays from April, July and now. (Emma and I both knew what was coming) He said then that her upper scoliosis curve is now 57 degrees and the lower curve is 37. This progression is not untypical (is that a word?) and they were expecting it to continue to worsen. He told that us that she is now within the surgical range for her scoliosis but they still want to wait a while before doing anything because she is still so short and they want to give her more opportunity to grow. He is quite confident that he can straighten out her top curve almost completly the way it is now but doesn't want to wait until her last growth spurt because he thinks she will be so crooked then. However, he is still concerned about Emma's "hinge" as we affectionately call it. There is way too much motion in her vertebra between the fusion that they did in Nov. of 08 from C1 to C4 and a natural fusion that she has at between C5 and C6. So, there is a "hinge" between C4 and C5. That hinge has put her spinal chord at risk since her last surgery which we did know. The Dr. however feels that we have waited long enough on this and no longer thinks that we should wait to combine it with her scoliosis surgery. He is still concerned about her losing function in her arms or legs due to injury caused by the motion there. It does look quite misaligned on the xray. So he wants to add to her previous fusion by extending it now to C7 which I believe is her whole cervical spine. He did say that the surgery sould be less involved and her stay in hospital should be a little shorter and she will wear an E coller like before and not a halo. He said, "How does May look for you?" I said "That soon?" He told us that it is not an emergent case but he doesn't want to wait too long and will expedite her for whenever we think is good. I asked if we could do it in June so that she can finish school and participate in the school play. He said that he thought it should be okay but gently reminded us that he cannot guarentee that she will not have adverse affects from waiting. But, he also said that she has been stable since her last surgery so they have no reason to think that will change. So, June it is. I just have to call with the date when when Emma is finished the school play which I didn't have with me at the hospital.
He did ask me if we should go ahead or something like that once he said that he thought maybe he should extend the fusion. I told he that I didn't know and that he is the Dr. I told him that we were still doubting the last surgery while she was in the OR and didn't feel sure that we should have done it until we got the report after surgery. So, I was the wrong person to ask if we should go ahead. I asked him, "Do YOU think we should?" He said yes but, he also shared that he'll probably be driving home from work later wondering if he's made the right decision. Even the Dr.'s are human.
But, having said all that, we are trusting just as before that all things are in the hands of our great God and that he works all things out for his glory and our good. What peace and comfort that brings. Even to Emma. ( She was remarkably accepting of the information she received. She just said she knew it would come sooner or later.) I think that how she handled the news is a blessing also from God. God has kept her in a remarkable way all of her life when we didn't even know what was going on in her body. We are so thankful. So, for those of you who would like to know how you could pray, I'm sure it obvious but please pray for her continued safety over the coming months before her surgery. That her spine will remain stable and that she would not loose any function. We praise and that God for friends and family who support us in this way. Thank you all so much! I will post again when we receive a surgery date.
Love and Blessings,
The Grooms
The last time we saw Emma's Dr. was in July and he said that things were steady and holding so I didn't really have any new news to share.
Yesterday was Emma's 6 month check up with the surgeon. When we arrived she had her normal xrays and then we waited to see the surgeon. We weren't really sure which of the two Dr's she would see but the surgeon who actully did her surgery came in to see her. Emma was happy about that because she likes him better than the other Dr. He just seems to have a nicer bed side manner which makes him a little easier to talk to. (I think Emma has a little crush on him too)
He carefully examined her xrays as ususal and was taking longer than he regularly does comparing xrays from April, July and now. (Emma and I both knew what was coming) He said then that her upper scoliosis curve is now 57 degrees and the lower curve is 37. This progression is not untypical (is that a word?) and they were expecting it to continue to worsen. He told that us that she is now within the surgical range for her scoliosis but they still want to wait a while before doing anything because she is still so short and they want to give her more opportunity to grow. He is quite confident that he can straighten out her top curve almost completly the way it is now but doesn't want to wait until her last growth spurt because he thinks she will be so crooked then. However, he is still concerned about Emma's "hinge" as we affectionately call it. There is way too much motion in her vertebra between the fusion that they did in Nov. of 08 from C1 to C4 and a natural fusion that she has at between C5 and C6. So, there is a "hinge" between C4 and C5. That hinge has put her spinal chord at risk since her last surgery which we did know. The Dr. however feels that we have waited long enough on this and no longer thinks that we should wait to combine it with her scoliosis surgery. He is still concerned about her losing function in her arms or legs due to injury caused by the motion there. It does look quite misaligned on the xray. So he wants to add to her previous fusion by extending it now to C7 which I believe is her whole cervical spine. He did say that the surgery sould be less involved and her stay in hospital should be a little shorter and she will wear an E coller like before and not a halo. He said, "How does May look for you?" I said "That soon?" He told us that it is not an emergent case but he doesn't want to wait too long and will expedite her for whenever we think is good. I asked if we could do it in June so that she can finish school and participate in the school play. He said that he thought it should be okay but gently reminded us that he cannot guarentee that she will not have adverse affects from waiting. But, he also said that she has been stable since her last surgery so they have no reason to think that will change. So, June it is. I just have to call with the date when when Emma is finished the school play which I didn't have with me at the hospital.
He did ask me if we should go ahead or something like that once he said that he thought maybe he should extend the fusion. I told he that I didn't know and that he is the Dr. I told him that we were still doubting the last surgery while she was in the OR and didn't feel sure that we should have done it until we got the report after surgery. So, I was the wrong person to ask if we should go ahead. I asked him, "Do YOU think we should?" He said yes but, he also shared that he'll probably be driving home from work later wondering if he's made the right decision. Even the Dr.'s are human.
But, having said all that, we are trusting just as before that all things are in the hands of our great God and that he works all things out for his glory and our good. What peace and comfort that brings. Even to Emma. ( She was remarkably accepting of the information she received. She just said she knew it would come sooner or later.) I think that how she handled the news is a blessing also from God. God has kept her in a remarkable way all of her life when we didn't even know what was going on in her body. We are so thankful. So, for those of you who would like to know how you could pray, I'm sure it obvious but please pray for her continued safety over the coming months before her surgery. That her spine will remain stable and that she would not loose any function. We praise and that God for friends and family who support us in this way. Thank you all so much! I will post again when we receive a surgery date.
Love and Blessings,
The Grooms
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A Bend in the Road....So to Speak.
April 14, 2009
We were off to Children's on Tuesday to see Emma's the spine surgeon. Emma had her traditional xray of her neck and spine. While we waited to see the Dr.'s we played with Karys and read her a story. It was a long morning because there was such a long wait in radiology this time but it always interesting to meet and talk to other kids who are there for various forms of scoliosis. Tuesday in ortho is always scoliosis day so all the kids that come that day have scoliosis or some sping issues.
Anyway, we got to see the surgeon that actually did Emma's surgery this time and he was satisfied that the "hinge" has not gotten any worse so we will continue to wait before they correct that problem with surgery. The vertebra that is between her surgical fusion and her congenital one is quite abnormal. Being one vertebra on one side and two on the other. Which he said contributed to the decision to stop her fusion where they did because they are not exactly sure how to tackle that yet in regard to adding that in to a fusion.
An xray was also taken of Emma's whole spine which has not been done for quite some time and he told us that her 34 degree curve is now 51 degrees. He told us before that he expected that it would continue to worsen as she grows but they want to wait as long as possible before they fix it and they will combine that and the neck "hinge" surgery so that it only has to be done once if possible. At any rate, Emma has not really suffered in regards to her worsening curve and is comfortable so far. And, that is a reason to rejoice! So we will see the Dr. again in July to double check her "hinge" and probably ever three months to moniter the situaiton and that is fine with us. Emma asked the Dr. if she can ride her bike now and he said he thought that would be fine! Great! Lots of summer riding for the Groom family! Thank to all for your thoughts and prayers.
We were off to Children's on Tuesday to see Emma's the spine surgeon. Emma had her traditional xray of her neck and spine. While we waited to see the Dr.'s we played with Karys and read her a story. It was a long morning because there was such a long wait in radiology this time but it always interesting to meet and talk to other kids who are there for various forms of scoliosis. Tuesday in ortho is always scoliosis day so all the kids that come that day have scoliosis or some sping issues.
Anyway, we got to see the surgeon that actually did Emma's surgery this time and he was satisfied that the "hinge" has not gotten any worse so we will continue to wait before they correct that problem with surgery. The vertebra that is between her surgical fusion and her congenital one is quite abnormal. Being one vertebra on one side and two on the other. Which he said contributed to the decision to stop her fusion where they did because they are not exactly sure how to tackle that yet in regard to adding that in to a fusion.
An xray was also taken of Emma's whole spine which has not been done for quite some time and he told us that her 34 degree curve is now 51 degrees. He told us before that he expected that it would continue to worsen as she grows but they want to wait as long as possible before they fix it and they will combine that and the neck "hinge" surgery so that it only has to be done once if possible. At any rate, Emma has not really suffered in regards to her worsening curve and is comfortable so far. And, that is a reason to rejoice! So we will see the Dr. again in July to double check her "hinge" and probably ever three months to moniter the situaiton and that is fine with us. Emma asked the Dr. if she can ride her bike now and he said he thought that would be fine! Great! Lots of summer riding for the Groom family! Thank to all for your thoughts and prayers.
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