....We saw our surgeon last Tuesday (12th April 2011) because the anti-biotics that were given to her for this low grade infection on her wound had not cleared it up. The surgeon took a look as best she could and did say that the wound from what she can see has healed nicely, but there's this "cluster" of skin right inside the cast, probably at the top of the wound, and stuff is still oozing out of it, so the surgeon suggested that Maisie has another blood test to check and make sure that there is no infection in her blood, she also gave her another 5 day course of anti-biotics (same ones). We explained how difficult we have found it to give these to Maisie, the surgeon explained that; a) a little is better than nothing at all, & b) to get the syringe to the very back, behind the back teeth pointing to the cheek (so she doesn't choke) well that didn't work either we still got covered in it so ended up giving it to her with Alan pinning her arms down and me putting a towel under her chin, getting bits in her mouth at a time then putting the towel over her mouth (but not covering her nose, so she could still breathe) to force her to swallow more that she spat out, although this is awkward, it worked....
....Maisie finished her anti-biotics on Sunday 17th April 2011, but there is now some funny bright green coloured stuff coming out of the wound. This morning (Mon 18th) I rang our GP's secetary to ask how I can get the results of Maisie's blood test that the surgeon requested she has, the GP's don't get a copy of this, but she did say that she would look into it for me ring me back and let me know. Anyway around 1/2 hour later the surgeon rang, apologised that she had not been in touch sooner but that the bloods had only just come back, and said that they look "normal" for Maisie's circumstances. I explained to her what was coming out of the wound, so were going to her local clinic tomorrow ( Tues 19th) so she can have another look at her and decide on what the next best course of action is! Later on this afternoon, I had a call from our GP, I explained that I had spoken with the surgeon and that we were seeing her again tomorrow, the doctor had gotten hold of Maisie's blood results, and was concerned at her Haemoglobin level being only 8.9 (Dr said it should at least be 11), she rang through to a consultant at The Royal London who said that a HB level like 8.9 is normal and is due to blood loss from the operation. Maisie was discharged from hospital with a HB of 8.8, 3 weeks later its still only 8.9, however, all this would be good apart from the fact that Maisie only lost around 14ml of blood in the operation (about a tea-spoon) so doesn't really account for a HB of 8.9, Dr has requested another blood test to check her iron stores in her blood to see what there doing...
...other than all these constant hard times were faced with each day, Maisie is progressing so well, her little spark is starting to come back fast, which is lovely to see, tonight she was on her rocking horse and she absolutely loved it, so much so that when we took her off it she cried to go back on...so we let her have a little longer on her little bright pink rocking horse! Although Maisie tires quickly she loves the tummy time, where she can just manoeuvre herself around, its really lovely to see her playing like a baby should play. We watched some video's on Alan's phone from before Maisie had the op, and just watching her, walking around and the general happiness in her voice all seems like it was a lifetime ago, yet hurts like hell to know that whilst doing something to benefit her when she's older, we have taken away one of the things that she loved most....her freedom! Life seems hard looking after an almost toddler in a Hip Spica, its one hell of an experience, and really tests you as a person, I am realising that I'm much stronger than I thought I was, but just because I'm always smiling, doesn't mean that's how I'm truly feeling, I hate seeing Maisie in this cast, you can look at her sometimes and she just looks sick of it all, many tears have been shed from us all in the short space of time that Maisie's had her Spica on, and no doubt there will be more to come. For now the only way is forward, once we have gone forward so far, that's when we can move up =)....
Steph xxxx
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