Palate Repair Anyone?

It’s been 7 months now since Liam’s palate repair surgery. That was definitely the most difficult of his surgeries to date. June 2, 2009 - Another early morning, we arrived at Sick Kids to check in at 6am. Liam’s surgery was the first of the day scheduled for 8am. We knew that this surgery required at the least one overnite in the hospital, maybe 2 nights at the most.

Dave and I left Liam in the capable hands of the Sick Kids nursing staff and ventured out into the beautiful June day and enjoyed a breakfast at EggSmart near the hospital. We made our way back to the waiting room and eventually we were told we could go see Liam. He seemed ok – he was lying on his tummy to allow for drainage out his mouth, he was swollen a little, but was being kept comfortable with a healthy cocktail of painkillers. Once he was moved to the recovery floor we were told he would be watched through the night by a nurse and that it was preferred the parents leave the hospital for that first night. Dave and I spent the nite at my sister’s apartment downtown and ordered pizza and watched some ‘computer’ – they don’t have cable – who doesn’t have cable? The next morning, Dave dropped me off at the hospital with my overnight bag – overnight, not overnight’s’ plural - and he made his way to work. I was NOT prepared for what I was about to see.

The morning after palate surgery

Liam was still lying on his tummy and when I turned him over his eyes were completely swollen shut. His face was puffy and he looked so sad and helpless. I asked the nurses about his eyes and they weren’t certain why this was happening, it wasn't the norm after palate surgery. They just figured it was because the doctors had checked his eyes during his palate surgery. My heart sank! I KNEW this wasn’t the norm as Liam had his eyes checked during surgery many times and nothing like this EVER happened. Why were the other palate repair kids up and eating, some were walking around – why was Liam comatose in his little hospital cot? I was told to try to keep him propped up  to help the swelling go down from his eyes and face. It was heartbreaking. He was still very groggy, on a lot of pain medication and IV fluids. By mid-day we were moved to our own room – for ONE nite… well, 6 days later we were released! 

2 days post surgery

Sitting up, 4 days post surgery

5 days post surgery

Daddy and Liam, still  hooked up
to meds and fluids

HAPPY to be finally going home!
6 days post surgery

Liam REFUSED to eat or drink anything! He didn’t eat a morcel for 6 days straight. The nurses kept him on IV fluids to keep him hydrated, but try as I may, he wouldn’t eat or drink. Eventually, after 5 days alone with Liam at Sick Kids, Dave came and stayed overnite to give me some time to recharge at home. At that point the nurses suggested to Dave that he force-feed Liam his fluids by syringe…that if Dave was able to get 10 mls into Liam by syringe we would be allowed to take Liam home. The next day Dave got 10, then 20 mls in Liam. And so started our 3 month battle of force-feeding by syringe. Liam never has taken to the bottle again – to this day he refuses to even hold a bottle or sippy cup! I was advised by Sick Kids not to force too much, as this would make Liam associate feeding with something negative – I started spoon feeding him fluids – SPOON FEEDING FLUIDS! I’m thankful to say it’s all in the past now… we went from not feeding, to syringe feeding, to spoon feeding, and thankfully now, to a sippy cup – albeit that I still hold for him – but hey, baby steps!

This surgery marks the end of our 'cleft related' surgeries for some time now. Liam will be seen again by the cleft team when he's 3 years old. The next biggie will be a bone graft surgery where bone from Liam's hip will be removed and placed in the cleft area of his palate. This will happen at around 6 years of age. The bone will assist in keeping Liam's adult teeth in place. A nose revision surgery will take place sometime when Liam is between 4 - 6 years old. Followed by many dental interventions/sugeries and possible further nose/lip revisions. Surgery will give him what mother nature didn't - a perfectly symmetrical face - even though he'll never see it. Scratch that - NEVER say never right? Who knows what the future holds...