's Spinal Fusion Surgery update

[Guest guest]

So, I haven't been here for a while. As some of you know, and some not (Lot's of new parents) My son, , was not blessed with the timing to reap the benefits of EDF casting. He took the "wait and see", and TLSO bracing route, followed by 10 months of halo traction which was followed by an unsuccessful VEPTR surgery followed by more years of unsuccessful bracing which finally led us to another 9 months of halo traction and the dreaded spinal fusion surgery.

The fusion surgery was on August 18th. Along with fusion of the spine they also went in through the front to remove the growth plates so his spine will not grow anymore.

It was a long 14 hour surgery. Immediately following his surgery he was sent to the Children's hospital ICU where he remained on the ventilator for 6 days. After that, he was sent back to ish Rite Hospital to continue the recovery process. A few days later he developed an infection which caused his wound to drain an huge amount of fluid. In order to control the drainage and allow the healing process to continue they had to open half of his wound and insert a Sponge/Vac system that drained all the fluid and kept the wound dry and clean. Every three days he went back into the O.R. to change the sponge. On the third sponge change they realized that he had a collapsed lung which brought us back to the Dallas Children's hospital ICU and on the ventilator for another 4 days. Once the lung got better they decided to close up the wound and not risk further infection and lung issues by constantly going in and out of the O.R.

We are finally back home after a month long hospital stay and are in recovery mode. He doesn't tolerate sitting up for more then an hour and a half at a time. He still takes pain medicine and needs to be turned in his bed often. This whole ordeal has been such a long and stressful time and I don't see him getting all better for a long while. He is still in halo traction because it makes sitting much more comfortable for him not to have all his weight on those rods. He will start homebound school soon and I hope and Pray that things will start to move at a quicker pace soon.

Boy, I feel like a Debbie Downer with this post and should probably end this with WHA WHA WHAAAAAA!!!

Connie AKA Debbie D

's mom