Second Surgery

Waiting at the hospital with Anna's Cho-Cho


What the heck is on my toe?




















Getting ready for surgery

Post Op with Mom (and "Cho Cho" #2)

Today Luke had his second round of surgery. This surgery was much more serious and painful and he ended the day with 4 incisions in and around his groin area. The different procedures went well, but as we write this Luke's epidural has worn off and he is substanial pain. Unlike his club foot surgery, this one hurts. He is uncharacteristically unhappy. He seemed to be feeling better, then when he attempted to sit up on his own, everything downstairs began to hurt again.

We stupidly thought the worst part would be the surgery, not the recovery. We are amateurs when it comes to dealing with childhood surgery.

The surgery appears to have been mostly uneventful, though the hernia was bigger than expected and another unexpected discovery led to another incision and 15 extra minutes in the OR. The nurse loaded him up on goofy juice and Luke got very happy and didn't have a care in the world as he was taken to surgery. His post op stay seemed uneventful, though it took him awhile to come off the anesthesia. He is not happy now though, so we are hoping for a quick turnaround.

On the upside, everyone at Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta was wonderful, we were all treated well, and Luke got excellent care. Also, Anna, our 10 year old Swiss friend sent Luke to the hospital with her beloved "Cho Cho" a stuffed raccoon she has had from birth. Luke LOVES him and hugs and kisses him , and was even allowed to bring him with him into the O.R.. When he was wheeled back sleeping on the gurney after surgery, Cho Cho was sleeping on his own pillow with him! Believe it or not, thoughtful Antonella, Anna's mom was able to find another Cho Cho right at the Scottish Rite gift shop! Now Luke has Cho Cho's American cousin to snuggle with.

We are very hopeful that this will be his last surgery, so please, please, please, pray that his eye patches work and he won't have to have another go around. That's all from Atlanta, here's to hoping for a peaceful night!