Being a Mother is learning about STRENGTHS you didn’t know you had, and dealing with FEARS you didn’t know existed.
It was a restless night of sleep last night due to bright hospital lights and beeping IV’s but Walker and I did get a little rest. Sleepover for Mom and W in the hospital! We were told they were going to try and get him his esophagram done in the morning, so he could get some liquids. W hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since Tuesday, not even water. He was STARVED. As the hours went on, we still didn’t have a time for his procedure and W was starting to get quiet and depressed. We tried saying ‘IT COULD BE WORSE.’ He wasn’t in any pain, and hadn’t taken any pain meds since recovery the day prior. But sure....easy for us to say, right? He finally broke. Hid under his blanket and cried. He had enough! It’s been a long few weeks, and even longer 6 months! He’s OVER IT! A few minutes later Child Life came into the room to ask if they could help. They brought a basketball hoop and attached to our bathroom door. We played PIG, HORSE, dunk contests for a couple hours! His mood completely changed. I even posted on my Facebook stories a pretty sweet video of him dunking while hanging on to his IV pole. Well come to find out, once the surgeon came in, he’s not allowed ANY activity for 4 weeks! So we got in trouble. Oops! (It was worth it) His Esophagram was finally scheduled at 1:45pm. They took him down in a wheelchair and this time had to drink a clear liquid instead of barium. They were making sure there weren’t any perforations or leaks. They got all the photos they needed and things looked okay from a quick look, but they would take a better look after we left to make sure. They warned W how awful the liquid will taste. So....I had to take one for the team. I couldn’t let W go through it alone. So while the technicians weren’t looking, I grabbed a quick swig! Damn that tastes bad! And he drank almost 3/4 of the jug! That alone was good work! Since I tried it....it’s only fair that my Mom took a swish too! Once a team, always a team! She did....and said, ‘That tasted like I drank my perfume!’ Bad news. Gross. We got him wheeled back up to our room and had to await the results before getting anything to drink. They were making SLIME down in the Child Life Room so we ventured down and Walker made 2 batches! He started coughing and gagging so we headed back to the room. The surgeon said it’s probably just irritation from having surgery yesterday and all the cutting they did, so fingers crossed that starts to go away. The results came back that everything looked great! So it was time for some water, jello and a popsicle! He felt like a new man!!! Through the weekend he can only have clears; Water, juice, Gatorade, jello and popsicles. Then for a week he can have full liquids! No activity for 4 weeks.....but then he can be released to eat and do whatever he wishes! The liquids seemed to go down ok and they said we can head home! Heck yes! We are back at the hotel for tonight just relaxing and making sure he does okay through the night before driving 8 hours home. We all took showers, I’m doing Some laundry and sitting here watching HOCUS POCUS!! Walker is enjoying some Lemonade, jello and sucking on Lemon Head candies....happy boy! We will head home tomorrow and make the full drive! We are ready to get back to Jason and the boys.....and the puppy...and the bearded dragon, I guess. We will have another Esophagram in 6 weeks to make sure everything is healing how it should. They are going to schedule that procedure back home and just have the results sent here to Mayo. If all looks ok and Walker isn’t still having symptoms, we will leave the fundoplication alone. (His first surgery they partially wrapped the stomach around the esophagus to prevent acid reflux). If you read my previous posts, the wrap is too snug and possibly causing issues. Otherwise, we will have to do yet another procedure to loosen that. But I’m not even going there right now! Positive thoughts this is it for many many years!!!! We are tired, but happy to be out of there! So blessed to have gotten such great care. I feel good about this surgery and Walker is doing so well! Thank you again for everyone’s LOVE & support! It’s truly unbelievable! Full hearts over here!
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