John the Patient

On March 14th, John had surgery to remove his tonsils and adenoids, and put tubes in his ears. He had been dealing with hearing loss, sleep apnea, eating issues, and illness for the past few months. The night before the surgery, John picked out a new pair of pajamas to wear to the hospital the next day. He also picked a stuffed animal to bring with us - Leo the Lion, a gift from his preschool teachers. At bedtime, I videotaped John reading. The doctor told us that his voice would change. I wanted to remember what he sounded like for his first 4 years.

On the morning of John's surgery, he wasn't allowed to have any solid foods. John didn't mind. He happily drank blue Gatorade and ate blue Italian Ice for breakfast. When we arrived at the hospital, John thought he was at Disneyland - toys, PBS cartoons, and silly socks. He took his medicine without any protest and gained a trip to the prize closet. Once it was surgery time, I walked back to the OR with him. He was brave and did not cry at all. He hopped onto the operating table and told his Anesthesiologist that she looked like his Daddy because she wore glasses. He held Leo and my hand as they put him to sleep.

Thirty minutes later, his Doctor came to talk to us. He said John had the largest tonsils that he had ever seen! He said that it takes a lot to impress him, but that John did it. I told the Doctor that John deserved a trophy for this accomplishment.  John wasn't too happy as he was coming off the anesthesia, but most kids aren't. The first time he spoke (or rather, screamed), his voice was so different. He calmed down once the IV was out, and we took him home a few hours later.

The recovery has been slow. And it has involved a lot of chocolate chip ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When the pain medicine is working, John wants to eat pizza and has to be reminded not to run down the halls. When the medicine is wearing off, he doesn't want to eat or drink anything, and he has a lot of trouble sleeping. His hearing and breathing immediately improved, so I know this will be worth it once he's through the healing process. Until then, bring on more ice cream!