Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans, eh? We ended up leaving on Monday rather than Saturday due to a lack of available rooms at the Ronald McDonald House. We stayed near Baltimore which actually turned out to be very convenient to the hospital and sights we wanted to see in Baltimore where Mommy went to university so it worked out just fine after all.
We got to Children’s and of course, there was a bit of the hurry up and wait which is made even more interesting by a whirling dervish of a brother.
We had remarked to anyone who would listen about how bright-eyed, alert, and often bushy-tailed Alexander has been since his surgery. We were wondering if Dr Bruce was going to see that side of the boy because he was quite happily snoozing away the time. Fortunately for us, he decided to wake up in time for Dr Bruce to have a look at him.
I think it’s safe to say that Dr Bruce was awfully pleased to see him because as soon as we entered the office, Alexander was in his arms as if by magic. It was obvious Alexander’s pretty blue eyes were having their usual effect on someone who doesn’t get to see them very often (not quite to drooling stage but definitely well past the usual awwww, he’s so cute mark!).
The incision site itself is healing nicely. Most of the bottom half of the incision is already well on to healing and the top is getting there with continued cleaning. We think Dr Bruce was surprised that the seizures had stopped completely after the surgery as he had prepared us for the possibility of a few in the hours immediately after the operation but then they should taper off. But he hasn’t had a single one since the surgery and it’s Dr Bruce’s opinion that the longer he goes without the seizures, it’s much less likely they’re going to return and it’s a good indicator that they got out everything that needed to be taken out. He had mentioned some abnormal areas on scan but his opinion is that it’s more likely an artifact of the MRI given the lack of seizures.
All in all, this was a good trip even without some of the extra-curricular things we were planning on this trip (our Indian restaurant in Adams-Morgan district of DC and the Baltimore Inner Harbor/National Aquarium), And it was a necessary one, not just for Dr Bruce’s opinion on Alexander’s recovery. You see, in this line of work, you aim for the happy ending and sometimes you get it, sometimes you don’t.
Dr Bruce seeing Alexander’s remarkable recovery is a major happy ending and that’s the sort of thing that helps you carry on in the cases that aren’t destined for that sort of resolution. That’s why this trip was necessary and seeing Dr Bruce’s smile and joy at something he did for our son was more than worth it.
The next steps for Alexander are an MRI in three months and a probable return to Washington in six months for another follow-up appointment with Dr Bruce. I think we’ll be able to find the time… 🙂
