Callie's Surgery

Callie had her surgery on July 2, 2009 to correct her scoliosis. We had to be at the hospital at 6am so Callie and I got up at 4:40am so we could get there on time. Our slow and grim walk into Primary Children's hospital


Callie was really brave until they gave her the IV. We weren't expecting them to give her the IV while she was still awake. They told us they would knock her out with gas before the put it in but I guess they lied. Callie said the IV was the worst part of the entire experience. I felt so bad for her. She was so scared and she cried and cried because the IV hurt so bad.

They took her back into surgery around 8am. She says she remembers them putting something into her IV that stung and she wanted to hop off the table and run away but soon she was asleep and she doesn't remember anything else. She was done by 11:30am which was much faster than we expected. Her doctor said her surgery went really well and they moved her up to her room on the 2nd floor in the Neuroscience Trauma Unit which was our home for the next 5 days.
Callie right after they brought her out of surgery.

My brave little warrior

She sleeps and sleeps and sleeps. Unfortunately, the medication she is on gives her very realistic nightmares. She has woken up a few times sobbing hysterically and even when she opens her eyes she still thinks her dreams are real and it takes me a long time to calm her down and wake her up enough so she realizes we are NOT all zombies and Sasha was not killed by someone who broke into our house :(

Before the bandages came off, practicing sitting with her Physical Therapist

Callie with her Dad. She loved to have a cold, wet cloth rubbed all over her face and arms.

Callie's long and scary looking incision. If almost feels like she has a zipper in her back. *shudder*

Leaving the hospital at last! Uncle Jim came to help me take her home and I was so grateful he did. She is really hard to move by myself. Jim also bought us dinner and and ran to the store to get some groceries Callie wanted. Thank you Jim!

Callie was very happy to see her Sasha Lou and Sasha was VERY happy to see her too!

The day after we came home from the hospital, Grandma & Grandpa, and Denise and her kids came up to see Callie. They brought a beautiful bouquet of roses, pizza and some other presents for Callie. Thank you! They were all amazed at how much taller she is but we won't know exactly how much taller until we go in for our check up in August. They will x-ray her back and count the screws in her back and see how much she "grew".

We are relieved the surgery is over and that she is healing so quickly but it has been a rough week for us all. Callie needs round the clock care. She can't do anything by herself. She needs help showering, standing up, going to the bathroom etc. Plus, she needs her medications every three hours day and night. We have tried to take shifts so it isn't too overwhelming for anyone. Tony has been a HUGE help and I don't know what we would have done without him. Thankfully every day gets better and better...

Callie is very happy her spine is straight and she is really glad that she had the surgery done. She has shown tremendous strength and maturity. Thank you for the gifts, the calls and the caring. We love you all!