Chris' Surgery at St. Louis Children's Hospital
- 10-31-07 Surgery day. In at 8:15 and out at 4:45pm. Posterior Spinal fusion completed. Dr. Bridwell said minimal blood loss, no lower extremity monitor problems. Moving feet and legs well. Removed 6 Sacral screws which were completely out. He stated he literally picked them up with forceps. Had Instrumentation reps from the old Instrumentation Co. and the new Instrumentation in the OR with him. Dr. Bridwell gave us the sterilized Instrumentation that was removed. Dr. Bridwell said he thinks I will be pleased with the look of his back. He wants Chris on bed rest until the next surgery Nov. 7th because he feels the lumbar spine is not stable until it is fused and especially in light of what has already occurred with the sacral screws coming out. I cannot believe Chris walked around for 16 months bent over with no spine support in that area, and doing therapy!
- 11-1-07 Stayed in ICU until approx. 7:30pm today. Transferred to 10th floor Ortho spine floor. Room 1022. Huge room. Chris was taken off the continuous Morphine drip and just kept on the Morphine on demand through the IV. Has central lines, urine catheter. 2 wound drains, and oxygen. Gets uncomfortable frequently. We are turning him every hour if not sooner. It seems so strange not to see him smile but I certainly can understand it. The nurses cannot believe how good he is doing. He rates his pain a "0" or a "1" and of course is so cooperative with everything.
- 11-2-07 Bob flew home at 6:30am to pick up Erik at Detroit Metro-Thanks Mom and Shelley for driving Erik to the airport. Returned to St. Louis at 1pm. Happy 15th Birthday Erik. Chris is doing pretty good. Bedrest with no pillow and not able to eat. Getting Total Nutrition via the IV and lipids.
This is our view from Chris' room 1022 / Ortho / Spine floor
The 8th Floor Patient Garden
