"Operation Spinal Cord Freedom" - Day

Well, at 0445 this morning. We all got up to get ready for Noah's surgery. Everything went smooth getting to the hospital. It was still dark outside when we arrived to Duke Children's Hospital, but to my surprise when we checked into the 3rd floor, we were not the only ones there for surgery. First, we checked in and the receptionist said they would call us back around 0615 to start prep for surgery. Once we were called back, got his clothes changed into a "tired little tiger" gown and got him familiar with his crib (hospital bed). They checked his vital signs to make sure that everything was good to go for the operation. Dr. Fuch's and the anesthesiologist team came by to see if we had any last minute questions before the surgery. There wasn't really much I could think of because they did such a great job at our pre-op appointment, I wasn't really in need of anymore information that I had not already heard. Well, the anesthesiologist told me to put on a suit, booties, hat and mask because they said I would be able to go back into the operating room until they put him to sleep. BAD IDEA! I told my mother and father-in-law that if they ever ask what we can do to "improve" our services and information given to you here at Duke University, I would definitely tell them to: a. NEVER LET A PARENT GO INTO THE OR that their child is being operated in. b: tell them to write at least a three page pamphlet on the things a parent is to expect emotionally and physically before taking that that trip with them. The real reason they wanted me to go back there is because if any child experiences separation anxiety, they want the child to feel as comfy as possible, so to fix that they keep a parent by their sides until they are knocked out. Like, I said - BAD IDEA... I walked in the OR (operating room) and the anesthesiologist team was preparing their gear, the mask, etc. to put him to sleep. The table was so tiny in the middle of the room and then all around were monitors and I swear I think I saw like 8 million surgical knives and tools that would be cutting the incision into my baby's back. I think that is what did it for me. Those shiny, sharp tools are the LAST THING I wanted to see today. Especially with my vivid imagination. They finally got started with the mask and gas putting him to sleep. Next, BAD IDEA. Don't watch your child be put to sleep when they hold the mask to his face. Although what they say is very normal to see for me not so much - as he was breathing in the gas he started breathing like he had a sunken chest wound. AHHH, I shouldn't be writing all of the details out but I hated seeing that. The nurse, Ruth led me back out into the waiting room. I saw the clock and it was 0730 when he fell asleep. They started surgery at 0835 and at 930 the receptionist told me they were still working in surgery and then at 1030 the receptionist then told me they were finishing up in surgery. HOLY COW - this surgery was supposed to take 3-4 hours. Not just 2. I do admit, I really didn't mind. I was relieved when they told me he was coming out of surgery. Dr. Fuch's then met us in a conference room and told us that everything was right in one area, and that it was all tethered pretty bad: 1. where the dimple was on his back that was a sinus all the way through to his spinal cord. 2. It was also tethered from his philemon or syrnx. I hope I have those details right, but that's what I got from it. When they were operating they also found a cyst and removed it so it wouldn't be a problem later. They also inserted the tube into the syrnx and then said once they deflated the spinal cord it just went flat and was a big relief. After the conference, Ken (father in-law) and I went to the recovery room. The receptionist led us back to "Noah" but NOT MY NOAH - I freaked out and all I could think was that this kid had my kids chart and my kid had someone elses chart... O M G... what did they do to my child if this was the wrong NOAH... Noah Brooks was his name. Then when we started walking out of the recovery room to go back into the waiting room Noah's recovery nurse, yes Noah Kubica's recovery nurse pulled us to his crib area and all was calm again. They hospital had not in fact messed up...THANK GOD! When we got to the recovery area she was inserting pain meds into his IV. He was crying bloody murder and his heart rate was high and his respirations were high. OKAY - here I go, gonna freak out again. I had to walk away until the monitors stopped pounding in my head and everything was calm and normal. SHEWWWWW - well he recovered quiet fast, and rested for about an 1.5 hours under their watch. The recovery nurse was named Crystal and she was GREAT. Her knick-name for Noah was "Turkey". LOL - but he will always be my "booger". Anyways, after he did well there, we were moved to the 5th floor room # 5320. He has been doing VERY WELL with the exception of one pain/crying spell. He is sleeping as I type this. He isn't supposed to move much and he's supposed to lay flat for 5 days strait. LOL - we will see how long that lasts. He is already kicking his legs around. So - thank you all SOOO much for the prayers and thoughts this morning. I definitely felt them as did my mother and father-in-law. You guys are so great and I'm so thankful to have the family and friends I do. I will be staying at the hospital 24/7 with him. Below I am posting some pictures from before the operation this morning - to his room here at the Children's hospital. Please enjoy and THANK YOU all so much again! Words will never be able to express!
Please if there is ANYTHING I can do for you, just call and I will. Just know that!

















Have a wonderful day!
XOXO -
Lindsay K.