Hello everyone! It has been a very busy couple of months, we waited and waited for the dreaded letter for Blake's Hard Palate repair to hit the door mat, as we soon realized his surgery wasn't going to be the beginning of July! In the end we rang the hospital again, and were told we would hear something soon and we did. The morning I got the letter I didn't want to open it straight away, I just new it wasn't going to be a date!! So I opened it later in the afternoon and sure enough it wasn't a date but a meet and great with the our surgeon Mr Cadier for the following week. We went to the appointment, it was nice to see everyone and Blake showed off his 'standing skills' they were impressed lol
Mr Cadier checked Blakes hard palate and he was happy, he said it looked as though he would have a straight forward operation, and he explained to us what he was planning on doing. He asked if we were happy for the surgery to go a head and we signed the consent form. The ear specialist took the opportunity to check Blake's ears and asked us a few questions about his hearing, after his check he informed us that it looked like he may have Glue ear, which means fluid has built up behind his ear drum, and this can affect hearing, sometimes it can clear up on its own but if not he may need to have a hearing aid or grommets fitted, we already new that this was a possibility as its common with cleft children. We were told Blake would need another hearing test to see how his hearing was.
Not long after seeing the Cleft team the 'real' dreaded letter hit the mat!! Blake's next surgery was scheduled for the 24th July 2012! A couple of days later we got a call from our cleft nurse Nicola, she told me that we were going to receive a letter saying the surgery had been cancelled! my heart sank, then she said to ignore the letter! then it bounced back up! she said we will also receive another letter saying it has been reinstated! my head was whirrling! then she aked whether Blake had had his hearing appointment yet? he hadn't so we were told to ring ENT clinic and ask our specialist whether he needed it before Blake had his surgery. We rang the hospital and arranged an appointment which we received in the post.
I arranged a lift to get to Salisbury hospital for Blakes hearing audio test, so that Chris wouldn't loose another day's wage. So on the day Me and my good friend Mel put Blake in the car and traveled the 40 mins to the hospital listening to Jon Bon Jovi! I wasn't worried too much about the test as I know Blake can hear me !! and he was enjoying the music bless him, he really likes music I love watching him dance! he has changed so much in the past few months, really has turned into a chubby little boy ! and has hair is just like his big sister Tia's, he even has a curl at the back its so cute! He's very nearly on the verge of walking! hes done a few steps on his own unaided and hes tried to use his spoon while eating! clever little man :)
Anyway when we got to the hospital it looked like we were in for a long wait as it was very very busy... but soon as we sat down Blake was called and we were taken to a little sound proof audio room, the nurses explained what they were going to do, there was a little table in the middle with a few toys on one of the nurses would be playing with Blake while the other was playing sounds to see if Blake reacted to them if he did he was rewarded with some funny mechanical farm animals that were in glass boxes they would light up and move all very exciting!! He did quite well but the last sounds he didn't really react too, but we were not sure if it was because he was more interested in the toys or maybe he was bored lol The results would be sent to the specialist and he would decide if grommets would be needed. It was all very quick and we all headed back home I was a little concerned, but I didn't let it play too much on my mind as the surgery date was looming.
Chris's Sister Beka has come to visit! what a lovely surprise and brilliant timing! as Blake was having his surgery the following Tuesday... support is a necessity at these times, as I generally falls apart with anxiety! I know that he will be OK and that he is in fabulous hands but you just cant help it can you. On the Sunday before blakes surgery it happened to be Wessex CLAPA Fun-day!! at Salisbury Hospital I booked it off work specially as it was wonderful the year before and Tia really enjoyed it! there was a BBQ, Charlie the clown (whom I thought was excellent) and he even made Chris and Beka laugh! bouncy castles (which Blake really loved!!) and other fun things going on Tia had a pink tiger painted on her face she looked amazing! saw a few other cleft mum's saw my friend Gemma and her gorgeous little man Leon she chatted with me about Blakes surgery and made me feel so much better! less anxious it was worth going just for that wonderful support. It turned out to be an excellent day! we even dropped in on Mel and my uncle Arron on the way home.
Monday night I had to get Blake's bag together I got a few of his favorite toys as I wanted him to feel at home, he's really into cars at the moment! so I put few of them in along with his special monkey and mousy got my things ready as well as I would be staying with him we were told he would be in for one night but two days. So I packed myself a book to read. Me and Chris went to give blood that evening and while I was there the hospital phoned and told us to be at the ward for 7am and that Blake was aloud some weatabix and milk in the morning and water up until 11am. After that call it hit me, I guess I had been trying not to think bout it, I must have welled up a little as one of the nurses asked if I was OK, I just explained, my son was going for surgery in the morning, that I was OK to give blood. While waiting thoughts of Blakes first surgery came flooding back and so did all the emotions. I told Chris the hospital had rang and told him we had to be there for 7am. That was a hard night and I didn't sleep very well.
Beka would be watching Tia while me and Chris went to hospital, that morning we got ready made sure we had everything while Blake had his breakfast the night before I explained to Tia what was going to be happening, but that morning she wasn't happy! she wanted to come with us, I said she had to stay with beka and explained again what was happening I asked her if she was worried about Blake and she said 'yes' bless her, we told her she would see him on Wednesday when she came to collect him from hospital! and gave her a hug, she gave Blake a kiss! and we set off for hospital. Although we new the date we didn't know the time of the surgery, but figured it was around afternoon time.
when we arrived we were shown to our room after being booked in this time we had room one on Sarum ward, I didn't need showing around as I new it well, the nurse looking after Blake came in and did a few checks and explained a few things to us and said the Registrar would come soon to chat with us, so we got blakes things settled in then went to the play room, which Blake loved!! not so long after the Registrar came and chatted for a bit and told us blakes surgery was third on the list and would be taking place after lunch. I asked if Blake would be getting grommets fitted as we hadn't heard anything and he said he would find out. There was a lot of waiting and we were both tired, then the nurse came with a little gown for Blake to wear it had boats on it and light houses! it was very cute. So we changed blakes nappy and put the gown on him he had been very good all day and didn't cry or grumble considering he had only had his breakfast he was in high spirits! and unaware of what was a head.
A different Registrar came in to see us this time we new her she assisted with blakes first surgery! she remembered Blake and said how lovely he was it was time to go to theater.. my stomach churned, while we were waiting the other Registrar came and told us at this time Blake wouldn't be needing grommets so that was great news. I asked Chris do you want to put him under this time? he declined my offer... im not surprised he didn't want to do it.... its the hardest thing to do in the world, and this time Blake wasn't a baby he was very aware and I dreaded it. We walked to theater and I sat on a stool and held Blake in my arms he was looking around and wondering what was going on, the mask was placed over his face and all I could say was 'its OK baby' mummy's here' I love you baby' he focused on me then went limp after a minute. I lifted him onto the table then kissed him goodbye. I came out and I felt like my heart had just been ripped up through my throat. I welled up couldn't hold back my tears.Chris comforted me the registrar said don't worry he is in good hands! as we walked out of the waiting area, but in the stairwell I sobbed in Chris's arms.
Waiting is the worst thing ever I hate waiting. We went for a coffee in the Restaurant then e rang and checked on Tia I rang and gave my mum an update it was a very hot day so we took a stroll around the hospital before getting another coffee and going back to wait in the ward it must have been about 3 hours when the call came that he was awake! we practically ran to the recovery to see him... We heard him before we saw him he wasn't very happy at all... bless him he was very hot and angry and had blood oozing from his nose! I gave him water and couldn't believe it when he guzzled it down then he through it back at me! We could not calm him down it was a good 20 mins before he finally gave in, and settled into Chris arms. I though its the heat and I bet he's starving ! we blamed the 'greens' too lol (nurses in green) we were ready to go back to the ward, Chris and Blake were wheeled back on a bed and I walked behind full of thoughts and emotions.
We cleaned Blake up but the Blood still trickled out every now and again I had brought some puree food with us as Blake would only be aloud soft food I got a jar out and his face lit up! I took him and Chris fed him he ate the lot I was surprised it didn't hurt but then the nurses said he wouldn't feel pain again he wasn't able to feel anything from the anesthetic he had been given. Blake was happy to be back with the blues! (nurses in blue) he settled down after that and fell asleep. I told Chris he should go home! and gets some rest, It was getting late and I was shattered physically and mentally. the nurses were brilliant through the night keeping up with his medication,
Blake slept through I didn't sleep well though. The next morning Blake was peeping at me through the cot and he started laughing !!! bless him hes amazing he's such a bloody trouper!!! the medication kept him happy, as long as he wasn't in pain that's all that mattered,Chris arrived with Tia in tow eager to see her baby brother!! later that morning our Cleft nurse Nicola came to see us! and told us Blake could go home later that day as all was well. The nurses did there final checks and came and took out his meds tube and put a cute plaster on his foot! which Tia was quite impressed by! Nicola brought Mr Cadier to see us and said it all went well and he was pleased with the surgery.. I thanked him, he is amazing.
Nicola said she would be coming to visit us at home soon and that we would be back in clinic for Blake's check up in three months time. Finally we were discharged and we thanked everyone and headed to the car ready for home. Relief that another chapter has ended we just hope that he heals well and the hole doesn't reopen. We are not sure whether there will be anymore surgeries but we know that its a possibility his next major one with be his bone graft from thigh to gum. Dreading that the most Blessed be everyone! and thank you for following Blakes journey..... its not over yet
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