Adventures in Parenting

Three days ago, my 18-year-old daughter underwent maxillofacial surgery – more commonly known as jaw surgery. Her under-bite was protruded to such an extent that it affected her eating and speech as well as her facial structure. We’ve been anticipating this surgery for the past 2 years, waiting for her jaw to completely grow out.

On the day of the surgery, we went into the hospital at 5:30am – that’s right, we had to wake up in the middle of the night! But I was glad we had been scheduled as the first patient on the surgeon’s agenda. He is usually more alert.

After all the pre-op procedures of blood work and paperwork, it was 7:30am when the surgeon came to our room.

“How are you feeling this morning?” That was my question to him, not his to my daughter 🙂

“I’m feeling good. I had my breakfast.” Not too much coffee to make your hands jittery I hoped.

My daughter was finally wheeled into the operating room at 8:00am. At 11:30am, the surgeon tapped me on the shoulders while I was nodding off in the waiting room.

“She’s doing fine.” A big sigh of relieve!

While the doctors and nurses were very good about telling us what to expect and how to prepare for the surgery, here are a few extra hints I learned to pass on to you in case you face surgery with your children:

1. Bring some diversion. A toy, music in your ipod, or a book you can read to your child. There is usually some down time waiting in pre-op. It’s nerve wrecking sitting in the pre-op room waiting and not knowing what to expect. Now is a good time to bring out the handheld electronic games that you confiscated. Something mindless is what you need. The most traumatic part was inserting the IV. I made sure my daughter was listening to something engaging on the ipod.

2. Bring a hair brush, lotion, chapstick, toothbrush, face cloth, and other personal toiletries. The hospital is not like a hotel that provides you with customer service. I asked for chapstick and the nurse didn’t have any. You might as well bring a nail file to do your fingers and toes to keep you occupied.

3. Bring some fuzzy socks. With that lovely open hospital gown, it’s nice to have at least your feet covered up modestly and warmly.

4. For girls, bring sanitary wipes. It feels yucky not to be able to take a shower. A wet wipe is refreshing.

5. Bring a surprise. After the surgery, give your child a new toy, a new coloring book with new coloring pencils, a plant that she can replant at home (I don’t like perishable flowers), or a new game that your child’s been asking for. It would help cheer her up.

My daughter is now on a liquid diet and cannot talk for at least 2 weeks. She is using a white board and a bell to communicate. Bed rest is a good time to catch up on renting some old classic movies to help keep her mind off the pain of recovery.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Photo by j.reed