....Monday 5th September 2011, we set off for the journey to Whitechapel, London where we were going to be staying at The Sick Children's Trust - Stevenson House the night before Maisie's MRI as she had to be at the hospital for 7.30am. It's so nice to have a wonderful charity like this so close to the hospital, it has made life so much easier being able to stay just minutes from the Royal London Hospital. As it was last time we stayed there, it was a very warm welcome. Once we were given the keys to our room, it had turned out that we were staying in the room we stayed at the first time we stayed with them for Maisie's operation. We bought some merchandise that you can see in this picture....
....We bought 2 "Pencils with a point", 2 "Pens with a point", "a cuppa that cares" mug, and their tea towel. We headed up to our room with our bags, to sort things out and unpack the stuff from under the pushchair so we could go and get some stuff from the shop. Maisie was surprisingly good, to say she's never slept their before, she was settled in the travel cot provided by 8.30pm-ish. Which gave me and Alan some time to just sit and have a cuppa before bed. All alarms set, my mum will be ringing 6.45am to check were awake...
....Tuesday 6th September 2011, Maisie had a pretty good night, she woke at 12.30am so she had her bottle of milk, I was quite glad she woke for it before the 2am cut off. Maisie didn't cry again until 6.15am, which I put her in the bed with me and just laid next to her, Maisie of course as usual went back off to sleep, while I stayed awake, which I had been on and off all night & so had Alan. My mum rang as planned at 6.45am and we then got up and got washed and dressed while Maisie slept. Maisie woke at 7.10am, which was good, we left her nightie on, changed her nappy, put her coat on & went downstairs. We got to the hospital just before 7.30am, the nurse put Maisie's name bands on and before 8.15am the anaesthetist was round talking to us explaining everything, and that they may put a cannula in because the sonographer may want to inject some stuff at the end of the MRI to give them different views. We agreed to this, we really don't mind adding "maybe" something else, if it will give them more of a picture of Maisie's hip. Maisie played with the toys on the ward for a while, there was a ride-on fire engine, which she took a shine to, but she soon figured out that she could push it up the hallway to the other half of the ward!! After a while of playing, colouring on paper and drawing on her hands and face with felt tip pen, Maisie started to become restless and asking for her juice, which sounds like "Joos" when Maisie says it. It was hard to hear her asking for a drink and telling her "not yet" then listening to her cry. Maisie was eventually called down at 10.15am, unfortunately this time only one of us could be there while Maisie was put under because the room was much smaller than others. I went down with Maisie, and after a little struggle with screaming, Maisie was wedged in a position that allowed the mask to cover her face and after 2 large breaths from Maisie she started to go off. Once she was under, on the count of three, myself the anaesthetist and the nurse lifted Maisie onto the bed and laid her down, they kept hold of her dummy & dumbo for when she came round, I gave her a huge kiss on the side of her head from me and daddy and went back to the ward with the nurse. Me and Alan went to a cafe for some breakfast and a cuppa, the nurse asked if we could be back in around 40 mins, which was fine. The call for Maisie was around 11.30am, Alan went with the nurse to collect her. It only took 15 minutes to collect her, but it felt like it took hours for them to come back with her. Maisie was groggy as to be expected and drank half her cup of juice in one go & then wouldn't let go of it. The nurse said as long as Maisie kept the juice down then they would make her some toast. Maisie had a cannula in, so this was removed and after the bleeding had stopped the nurse put a plaster on it. Around 45 minutes later Maisie was given 2 slices of toast, which she sat in the cot watching cbeebies eating away. The nurse came to see us at 12.30pm to explain that we would be getting the results in a few days, what to do if we have any concerns, who to ring etc. I signed Maisie's discharge papers and we were allowed to go. We took Maisie back to Stevenson House, we had a cuppa and Maisie sat and ate a yogurt. Maisie was happily playing Alan stayed downstairs while I went and packed our things up, brought them downstairs and handed the keys back. Alan phoned for our taxi and waited for him to turn up. We got in the taxi at 3.30pm and were back home for around 4.15pm. Maisie was in bed and asleep by around 8.30pm and slept brilliantly....
....We bought The Sick Children's Trust T-shirt, and it is a little big for Maisie, but here is a lovely photo of her wearing it today (7th September 2011)....
Steph xxxx
