Day 21 Post Wound Surgery #1

Today Asher had his third VAC therapy dressing change on his head. They gave him a dose of versed upstairs, two more doses downstairs and then the anesthesiologist told me later it took three times the "normal" amount of propofol to get him fully asleep. My boy is one tough boy! He was groggy and out of it and they told me he was still putting his hands up to his head while they started to work on it.

Then the anesthesiologist gave him versed, zofran, clomodine (spelling?), and demirol. While he was out they did his PICC Line Dressing change too, more woohoo! He woke up slow slow slow, got brought up stairs and he slept on the way up, then woke up when I moved him to his bed and he ate a sugar cookie that my friend Barbara brought to him today and drank milk, and is now sleeping again while clutching a thing of cupcakes. Everyone that comes in just smiles big. (NOTE: Right now he only eats right after he wakes from anesthetic if he wakes in a good mood.)

(photos removed)

So, the anesthesiologist said I could only stay till Asher was out and then I had to leave....BUMMER! BUT, a nurse came out to get me from the waiting room part way through and said the plastic surgeon and the neurosurgeon both wanted me to come see it. Yeah! I was glad I got to see it in person. It doesn't look as bad in person as it does on my camera (the nurse had taken a photo). They said it looks better than they thought it would. It is smaller. It isn't bleeding. The bone looks okay right now, but still exposed. They said he won't need antibiotics at home. They said they are feeling good about the VAC Therapy that is being used.

So, all good news. Oh, and for the dressing changes next week, they will NOT be done in the clinic. They will be done in the PACU just like today. The only thing is, they will be done outpatient so we have to check-in at admitting 1 1/2 hours before the procedure and have to stay till he is awake....for instance, next Friday we have to be at the hospital at 6:30am.

Now to pack up this room and take my boy home tomorrow morning or early afternoon!!!!!!! I'm just going to enjoy this time and not worry about his tumor, his cancer, his chemo, his future therapy, nothing, just enjoy having my kids under one roof again! Asher hasn't been home since the 2 days and 3 nights in September (9/5-9/7)!

Oh, and Asher's counts today:

wbc 1.7
rbc 4.21
hemoglobin 12.9
platelets 169
anc 799 (dropping more and not sure why)
weight - 16.1 to 16.6 varying depending if he had shorts or shoes on