On May 5 we drove to New Orleans to be there bright and early the next day for Grayson's surgery. Michael and I got almost no sleep that night trying to time Gray's feedings. He could only have clear liquids after midnight and nothing to eat after 3am.
On May 6 we had to be at the hospital at 5am. Thankfully, our hotel was attached to the hospital, and we just had to walk right over. Gray was SO good that morning. He had to be starving, but he just slept in mine and Michael's arms. So many doctors came in and out explaining all the risks of the surgery. It suddenly became real when the first risk on the consent form was DEATH. I had the hardest time signing that form. Thankfully, our plastic surgeon, Dr. St Hilaire came after this and eased my worries. When anesthesia came to take him to his surgery, everybody said their 'see ya later's. I was so mad because I wanted to hug him one more time, but they took him from Michael before I had the chance. Next, came the wait.
Once I sat in the waiting room, I cried for the first time that day. I was so scared! It was comforting that so much of our family was there. After about 2 hours, a nurse told us that they started the procedure (they had to start all his lines and draw his labs before). The actual surgery only lasted about 1 hour. When I saw Dr. St Hilaire and Dr. Bui walking towards us, I knew it was good news. They were both smiling. They said that everything went perfect and he was being woken up.
We had to wait a bit longer on them to wake him, and for him to get settled in the PICU. He did end up having to get 1 blood transfusion during this time.
The first time I saw him in the PICU was a big shock. I had looked at so many pictures of other babies that went through the surgery, but nothing can prepare you to see your son like that. He didn't look or sound like himself. He was already swollen, had so much hair shaved, and was so hoarse from being intubated. My poor man was in so much pain. Thankfully, we had awesome nurses that called the doctor several times to give him extra pain medicine.
I remember being so mad that they shaved so much hair. I know it seems silly. Why be mad about something as minuscule as hair? Especially when it will grow back. With everything that was going on and all the stress of the day, that was just 1 unexpected thing that took me over the edge. They don't ever shave so much hair, and I was not prepared for that.
Anyway, Grayson's 2 day was So much better! He even started cooing for the first time ever! One of the workers brought him a mobile for his crib, and he would spend so much time looking at it and talking to it! He just amazed! Since then, he has only amazed me more.
The first 2 pictures are from the day of his surgery, the second 2 are the next day:
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