Post-Op

The surgery went well. We got the other kids where they needed to go, arrived at the surgery center close to on-time, and our girl was in good spirits. She never asked why we hadn't fed her breakfast or offered her anything to drink. And she really loved her fancy green gown and orange socks.

 

 The surgery took place at a children's hospital satellite location, so everything was geared toward kids. The staff was wonderful and explained the procedure and our options. I was able to wear my own special white jumpsuit and blue hairnet in order to follow her into the operating room. I held her hands as they put the laughing gas mask on her and felt her muscles relax as the medication took hold.

The surgery itself was quick and without incident. The pilomatrixoma came out perfectly and the lasered skin looks dark and bruised, which is what the doctor expected. Everyone marveled at how sweet and calm Sophie was throughout the morning. They told us that she would probably be grumpy when she came off the anesthesia, but she wasn't. She happily drank the juice and ate the snacks they brought her while she snuggled on my lap. Her only real irritation was the arm splint that blocked her ability to remove the IV that was in her left hand. Oh, and the staff was very aware of the self-soothing power of her right hand. They made sure her fingers were available in case she needed them.

Sophie did experience some medically-induced loopiness. She blew raspberries and sang show tunes as loud as she could on the drive home. Mostly it was Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie, but she surprised us with her knowledge of Tomorrow from Annie. We arrived home just long enough to drop off Bryan and were on our way to pick up Phoebe when Sophie started asking questions.

Sophie: My has?
Me: What?
Sophie: Sophie has?
Me: Sophie's house?
Sophie: Sophie's house?
Me: What are you saying?
Sophie: What my have?
Me: What do you have? I don't know, what do you have?

That's when I turned around to look at Sophie in her carseat. She was staring at something in her hand and the bandage which had been covering her incision site was no longer on her face. Her dexterous fingers also removed the Dermabond that had sealed the cut. After a new band-aid, a short nap, and the retrieval of the boys from school, we went back to the surgery center for the doctor to glue her up again. The doctor and her nurse marveled at how calmly Sophie sat while they patched her back up.

Her birthmark will look bruised and dark for at least 10 days. Oh, and it can't have any sun exposure at all, otherwise it might turn brown.

Huzzah for sunscreen and big floppy hats!