Day 122: Full Report from Adhesion Removal

Duplicated on our CaringBridge site for permanent record here.

Feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 2021, written by Mama

122 days in the hospital: 63 in PICU, 28 in the Oncology ward, 15 at In-Patient Rehab, and 16 back in the Oncology ward.

Through St. Joseph's intercession today, God absolutely lavished us with graces and consolations. We thank all of you, known and unknown, who were seriously praying and making sacrifices. Many of you attended Mass for us. We know of two local Catholic schools who gathered and prayed for Thomas. I know there are many hidden prayer warriors for Thomas.

Mama and Thomas holding hands in pre-op

Thomas was wheeled back at 12:55, surgery began at 1:41, and the doctor was finishing up at 2:52, which was a lot less than the likely three-hour procedure we'd been told to expect.

It turns out Thomas did not have an intrinsic bowel stricture at all! He had an adhesion (scar tissue) attaching his left splenic flexure to his liver. (It's called the splenic flexure because it sits next to the spleen, but Thomas has had. his spleen removed, so now his left flexure sits adjacent to the liver.) Scar tissue was pulling so hard on Thomas's bowel that the surgeon says it was like folding a garden hose in half such that almost no fluid could get through. All he had to do was cauterize the scar tissue (so no cutting and no bleeding) and the bowel released to its healthy, normal diameter. He entered through Thomas's former incision, but only had to open up four inches of it this time, and it is now closed beautifully. Recovery should be easier than anticipated, too.

Plans are for Thomas to rest and keep his epidural through this weekend. After his bowels "wake up" in a few days, Thomas will be given permission for clear fluids.

Awake after surgery and already speaking loquaciously

Thomas woke up from anesthesia beautifully and promptly asked us if we could call Sam from Child Life to book a timeslot in the playroom this afternoon. We had to explain that his epidural prohibits getting out of bed, but that we'd make our own fun this weekend. Thomas then began talking with animation and questions for hours. After two hours, by which time Chris and I could hardly stop giggling, we put him on a video call with his siblings so he would talk to them for awhile. 

Having an epidural and being allowed to sit up a maximum of 30 degrees doesn't stop this fella from doing his art! I had told him it was bedtime, but he replied passionately, "But Mama, I have hardly drawn any art today!" I wasn't about to tell the boy no to such a sweet request after surgery, so he went on to draw three wonderful pictures before his eyelids fluttered shut.

Thomas was asking about DisneyWorld and when we might get to go for our Make a Wish trip. He discussed many details he has seen on other Wish families' YouTube videos documenting their experiences. Then he asked me whether Wish trips cost money. I tried to explain, "Other people have to pay money to go to DisneyWorld, but Make a Wish Foundation will pay for our trip."

Thomas: "Are Wish trips just for cancer kids?"

Mama: "No, they are for kids who have had cancer or other big illnesses. Make a Wish knows those kids have had a really, really hard time and they want to give those kids a gift just to make them happy."

Thomas: "But Mama, I haven't had a really hard time. I just had cancer!"

And that's when Mama got too choked up to keep speaking.

May we all, including me, face God's crosses with such acceptance and grace.