Cassie and her impending surgery

My littlest granddaughter, Cassie, the one with Spina Bifida will be having surgery next week. On Monday she will have a pic-line installed so they can easily infuse her without having her arms strapped to something. Since she uses them as her mobility, the doctors actually get it this time to put the IV somewhere else.

She is having bladder augmentation, which will expand the size of her bladder, and while they are at it, they will put in a port next to her belly button for self-catheterization. She is pretty excited about it. She knows she has to have an operation, and that it may cause her some discomfort. But she also knows she will be more grown up when it is over. At least that is her take on it right now. She will be in the hospital for at least a week, and out of school for up to six weeks. The surgeries require the coordination of 4 different doctors schedules, and a block of time of up to 12 hours. Her urologist, proctologist, neurosurgeon and pediatrician will all be in the OR. The neurosurgeon will be there just as a precaution since he oversees anything to do with her shunt, and it empties into her abdomen.

The proctologist will resection her large and small intestines for expanding her bladder size, and adding the belly port, the urologist will actually put the parts together and hopefully it will prevent her left kidney from failing due to backflush. The other doctor who will not have to be there for an extended period (doctor #5) will put in a special line for flushing her bowels from the top once she has healed from her other surgeries. This is another of the big girl things that is happening. I am sure if you look up Spina Bifida you will find references to exactly what I am talking about.

Suffice it to say, Grandma, Mommy, Daddy, Step-daddy and sissy are scared half to death just waiting for the surgery. All positive energy, prayers and good thoughts are more than welcome. I'll try to keep you posted post-surgery.

Hello again

Thought I would pop in long enough to say I am no longer a moderator for one of my favorite facebook games, but am still enjoying my facebook time. I also have a boyfriend / new love in my life. No details except to say he is kind, gentle, sweet, amazing and someone worth risking my heart for.

I was injured at work in July, and haven't worked much since then. The first 6-8 weeks I was unable to return to even light-duty work, so my wonderful (NOT) bosses fired me. Nice, huh? I am doing much better now, and have even done some graphic design work for my old part-time employer. Life is starting to look up again, and I am getting going making some new styles of jewelry, and prepping my lampworking (torching) area for future use.

More to come soon, and hopefully some photos, to go with.