Follow-up appointment

Today was a follow-up appointment from last week of the fluid collection. I am happy to report that it is now completely gone and Dr. Beebe is very pleased with Allie's progress.

Many have asked questions about the instrumentation and whether she will have physical therapy. Dr. Beebe laughed at us when we asked if he stopped at the hardware store and picked up some rebar and deck screws. This picture is from the Medtronics website and I assume this is what is in Allie's back now.






As for physical activity, she is still very limited. She is not allowed to lift anything and cannot even do arm exercises/strength training for her shoulders and upper back. Dr. Beebe explained that in order to access her spine he had to cut through the trapezius muscle. It was then sewn back together. This will take time to heal. Allie will have to be cautious that she isn't straining this muscle and causing separation before it is completely healed.


Her incision (which is pretty much the length of her back) looks great but it still has some scabs on it. She will not be able to go in a pool or even have her back to the shower until the scabs are gone. Once the scabs are gone, she will still have to wait until Dr. Beebe clears her to do any type of swimming--she will be able to get in the water but will be limited to what she does with her arms and upper body.

School starts 4 weeks from today. She has a note to go back for part days--she may not need it. She will not be in gym class until Dr. Beebe clears it. She cannot carry her books and will be excused from her classes early (with a friend who will carry her books) to navigate the hall with the least amount of being run into. Hmm, I wonder if she will have any volunteers to help her...

Straight Ahead!

Allie is doing fantastic! Last Monday, less than a week after surgery, she took herself off the prescription pain meds. Thursday seemed to be a turning point. She started eating better. Friday night she started getting better sleep. She went to LifeGroup Friday night and got to spend time with her friends. She went to church Sunday morning.

Yesterday was her first post-op visit with Dr. Beebe and his nurse practitioner, Jill. The bandages came off and the wound looks fairly good. There is a collection of fluid (seroma) in the soft tissue. This is slowly draining. Dr. Beebe said that if it does not improve by next Monday she may have to have a drain placed. We are praying that the fluid will either spontaneously drained or be reabsorbed by her body.

She also had another x-ray taken. Pre-surgery her curves measured 50 degrees on the thoracic/upper curve and 60 degrees on the thoracolumbar/lower curve. We were told to expect no more than 50% reduction--so after surgery we might see 25 and 30 degrees respectively. Here is what she looks like now.

The thoracic/upper curve measures about 20 degrees and the thoracolumbar/lower curve is now around 13 degrees.

Before and After

One of the benefits of having this surgery is some additional height. We have not officially measured Allie but here are some before and after pictures.

BEFORE BEING TAKEN BACK INTO THE PRE-OP AREA

JUST BEFORE WE LEFT THE HOSPITAL

We are home now!

Shortly before noon yesterday we had all of our discharge paperwork and were ready to go home. It was an afternoon of trial and error--trying to figure out the most basic things. We had a Goldilocks night--but I don't think she even found her "just right" so we didn't get much sleep. But, like I said, it was all trial and error and I went out today to get a few things that might help us tonight.

Allie is much more mobile today. She is moving around a lot on her own really only needing help when going to sit down, lay down or getting up from these positions. She is doing her own workaround to make it all happen for her.

Late evening, Grace and Lori came for a short visit and brought us dinner (I could really get used to other people bringing us dinner!). It has been wonderful to have such good friends and cooks take care us us these days.

A great blessing for us yesterday evening was having Kiki and Alyse, the Curvy Girl leaders, visit. It has been such a great thing to know them and to have them encourage Allie throughout all of this. They told her to be drinking plenty of fluids and, under no circumstances is she to be on a trampoline--ever.

Discharge Day!!!

Yesterday afternoon the nurse practitioner, Jill, stopped in and gave the orders to have Allie released from the IV and pole. She also said that if Allie felt up to it she could go home later in the day. Allie opted for one more night in the hospital which was a good thing. It gave Duane and I a chance to be hands on with moving her.

It is now 7 am and we have about 5 hours (give or take) until we get to blow this popsicle stand!

Walking on her own with Daddy close by.

Send Allie E-card

Log on to Nationwide Children's Hospital website and send Allie an E-card. I'm sure she would love to hear from you!
http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/netapps/greetingcard?pageid=246

POD 3, 8:54AM

Allie is still doing great. She was able to walk three times yesterday and sat up in a chair for about 4 hours. I'm not sure how the night went because I actually slept pretty hard. At 6 the nurses were in to roll Allie and 15 minutes later Allie was asking to be in the chair. Her diet has advanced to "real" food and she is starting to eat small portions.

We anticipate the pain med pump and foley cath to be discontinued today. We are encouraging her to walk as much as possible. Planning to go home tomorrow!

Oh, it you haven't been on the Curvy Girls website yet this month, Allie's picture and bio has now posted on the Curvy Girl of the Month tab. Be sure to check it out!

A late entry--added on Sunday, July 7
Of course, Allie had visitors. Grandpa Siebert and Aunt Louise were back for the morning. One of Allie's close friends, Taysia, came to visit and escorted Allie on a walk.

Grandma and Grandpa Ball were in late. Angie and Sydney came to visit and brought dinner!

POD 2, 2:20 pm

It has been a good day so far. Overnight Allie started spiking a temp. There was also something else going on that oxygen was started. She ended up not needing much of the oxygen. On the other hand it has taken time for the temp to come down. Dr. Beebe was in this morning and said the temp spikes are caused by the lungs not working efficiently due to anesthesia, the pain meds and no movement. She needs to be up and walking as much as possible. Emily, today's nurse, said that it is not unusual to see the temps in fusion patients. At last check, the temp was back in normal ranges.

Late morning Tim, the PCA, got Allie into the chair where she sat/slept for almost an hour. We did a group walk from the chair to the door (Tim was guiding Allie, Duane followed, and I had the IV stand). Then it was lunch time and Allie has had some pudding, fruit, and plain noodles. We are making progress!

We have also had visitors. Yesterday, fellow Curvy Girl Payton and her parents came in. Payton has been in house and was 2 doors down from Allie. When Payton found out Allie's room she decorated the door to welcome Allie to the room. It was a great surprise.

Today Danielle, Sarah and her mom (picture below), and Grandma and Grandpa Thompson have been in.

POD 1, 10 AM

Allie did great overnight.  Her nurse, Jackie, was in every 1 1/2 to 2 hours to check on her. At midnight they started log rolling her every two hours. All through the night she rated her pain at 1 (0 being no pain). Dr. Beebe was in early and said that she can now work on sitting up and should be standing by this evening. She can also get off the hourly 30 ice chips onto the clear liquid diet.

Between 9 and 9:30 Ashley, the day nurse, and Asia, the PCA, came in to turn Allie. That led to "Let's do a dressing change" then to seeing that her sheets neded to be changed. That meant that Allie had to sit then stand. It was pretty much like watching a NASCAR pit crew in action. When Sonya (another nurse) got Allie to the standing position, Louise and I were amazed. Not only because she was able to stand so soon after surgery, but also because she is visibly taller.

For those who are curious, she has titanium rods and chromium cobalt screws.

End of surgery day

Our day started early--4am to be exact. We got to the hospital around 5:40 with my sister, Louise, just ahead of us. After figuring out how to get in the parking garage, we made our way to the surgery unit.

Charity, the nurse, got Allie set up with a gown, a red sock and a blue sock, and helped her select a scent for the anesthesia mask (root beer). Nancy, nurse practitioner, did a mini-check.

Then we met the anesthesiologists who did their checks and promised to tell her bad jokes as she fell asleep.

Dr. Beebe came in to say hello and answer a few last questions. He drew a smiley face on her back to identify the surgical site.

Our youth pastor, Adam, was with us most of this time and Louise got to come back for the last 15 minutes.

Allie was given Versed to help calm the nerves (fun). Just before it was time for Allie to go back into surgery Adam prayed for us and the surgical team.

At 7:30 am a surgery nurse came to take Allie to surgery. We were able to walk with her as far as the double doors leading into the surgery area.

It was then that I started crying. We entered the hospitality room where Adrianne, our "hostess" greeted us and got me some kleenex. She got us oriented to the area and then we sat down to wait. To be honest, the day went faster than we expected and before we knew it Dr. Beebe was out to talk with us.

Allie's day progressed by getting "giggly" gas then her IVs. Judging from the bruising on her right arm they may have had a bit of difficulty getting access. Around 9:00 am, the actual procedcure started. Four hours later, around 1:00 pm, they were starting to close. We had been told this process would take about an hour. We were watching the status board and at 1:35 her color switched from green (in surgery) to pink (in PACU). Dr. Beebe was out to talk with us at 2:10ish and said that we would probably get to see her in recovery. A few minutes later Adrianne was sending us on our way to admitting because Allie was being moved from recovery to her hospital room. She was in her room by 3:00 pm. Allie has spent the afternoon drifting in and out of a Dilaudid induced sleep.

Allie has to be on her back for eight hours. She will then be logged rolled from side to side. Tomorrow we anticipate her sitting up and perhaps dangling her feet off the side of the bed. She should be standing and taking a few steps by Thursday.

We sit her this evening as the sun starts to set witnesses of God's great goodness. We have had family, friends and friends of family and friends praying for us continually. We are blessed to be surrounded by such great love and faith.

July 2, 2:16pm

Allie was moved into recovery around 1:40. We talked with Dr. Beebe and he said that he is pleased with the results. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!

July 2, 7:38 am

Allie is now in surgery and Duane, Louise and I begin the waiting game.

The night before...

Since Allie will not be able to eat much this week, we let her decide what we would eat for supper tonight. Her choice: BD's Mongolian Grill.

We did a bit of last minute shopping for what we might need at the hospital and then headed to Sweet Frog for some frozen yogurt.

Now we will attempt to get some sleep... have to be up in about 6 hours...