Double Surgery- Ben Z update

June 22, 2007

Oh boy, here we go:

Hello all-

Just got back from Ben's pre-op appointment with his NS (McComb at LA

Children's) for his surgery on June 27th (decompress brain cyst- VERY enlarged

4th ventricle- between brain stem & cerebellum-lovely location for

hydrocephalus-sigh). After a recent finding of bladder spasms that highly

suggest neurogenic bladder (and a fatty filum on his MRI), doc is also going to

do the fatty filum snip during the brain surgery. Double whammy. Going to be

alot for poor Ben (will have to pre-admit him and drain his colon with go-lytely

and then hook him up to TPN so we won't have to deal with feedings and stool

that won't come out/have to irrigate him by catheter at home so that won't

work). This two things at once will double surgery time but will also keep my

son from having to recover and then turn around and do anesthesia, etc. all over

again. He has breathing troubles (could be because of this swelling though) and

problems with handling meds for pain management. Hospital

stay at least 7 days (with our Ben assuming longer). They of course have to

tell you all the " surgery risks " that just basically make you want to have a

heart attack and die or run away and never come back. Surgery is on June 27th,

appreciate your prayer support and post-op help. Will hopefully have my laptop

and husband with me. ) Thanks for listening. We hope for progress for Ben in

MANY areas, and at the very least, that he won't come out worse than he went in.

Blessings,

Debbie & Ben 3 1/2 yrs. (Down Syndrome, Hydrocephalus, Hirschsprung's,fatty

filum,neurogenic bladder)

---------------------------------

TV dinner still cooling?

Check out " Tonight's Picks " on Yahoo! TV.

Recommended Posts