eCard

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/ecard.htm?WT.svl=r


Room#B510 - looks like we'll be here at least thru tomorrow.

Facebook

You can comment on the blog if u want, but KT doesn't see those and doesn't necessarily want me to read them to her. But she does go directly to her phone to check for texts and Facebook notes every time she wakes up, so blast her with those. Still having tough time with pain, so continued prayers much needed.

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Screws

The nurse turned the screws for the first time at 18:45 EDT tonight, which starts the expansion process. You can see the wrench used; each side gets 2 full 360 degree turns twice a day for now. I'm sure he said we'll end up doing it 3 times a day once we're out of the hospital tomorrow. The overall concept is called osteogenesis, which means, "bone creation." The cut in each jaw bone is separated a tiny bit with each turn, causing the body to generate new bone to fill in the gap. Since KT has no real jaw joint, he says the expansion will first push the upper pieces to the rear until they hit "ground" at her skull. Once that happens, the lower pieces will begin to extend pretty rapidly. We're looking for 40 mm of extension (4 cm or 1.6").  KT seemed okay with the turning - up tight and apprehensive, but not too painful.

Cards

...can Be sent to Katie at:

Ronald McDonald House Room 81
350 Erkenbrecher Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45229

Please no flowers or gifts; we have limited space. Thanks!

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Pins

This shows you how her pins are located. We'll start turning the screws to expand her jaw tomorrow. She's still pretty deep asleep, but when she does come to for a few seconds at a time, she says she's still in pain. We're moving to a regular room now. She's pretty miserable at the moment. She is actually much less swollen in the face than she was last time, 7 years ago.

3D Skull Model

In Recovery

She awoke for a moment and said she was in # 10th pain, so they gave her some Fentanol, and she went back to sleep. Dr Gordon said all event very well - no problems.

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She's out!

Headed for recovery...

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In Surgery

She got real agitated as the guerney was rolled down the hall, saying she didn't want to go to sleep, and clinging to me hard.  They let us stay with her until she was asleep.  This is the hardest part of these surgeries - it breaks my heart because she gets so fearful.  I understand the feelings well, now.  As they rolled ne into the OR to amputate my leg, I remember well the overwhelming urge to jump off the table and RUN!  I had to pray extra hard for calmness, so I tried to whisper into KT's head to pray for peace, and I prayed aloud for her.  Next time, we'll ensure they give her some Versed or something to settle her down before they roll her out.

Attached is a shot of the 3D model of her skull.  You can see clearly the need, as only her back two molars meet.  She has adapted so incredibly - to function as well as she does with these obstacles.  That she can even eat, speak, and breathe is amazing.  She has done so well, everyone, including herself, has become convinced all is well.  But these surgeries will make significant improvements towards her independent adult life.  Hard as it is...

We're here

KT seems surprisingly calm this morning. I gave her a priesthood blessing last night after I beat her at a rousing game of Pac-Man! There will be more doctors in that room this morning than just Dr Gordon and his hospital affiliates - Master Physicians from Heaven will be assisting, of that we were assured. KT was also given an extra measure of healing power within her own body so she can bounce back from the strain of the surgery. This first one is the lower jaw distraction, the easier of the two. Here we go, ready or not...

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