We had our Pre-op diagnostic testing and clinic appointment for B'Elanna's Posterior Sagitatal Anorectoplasty (PSARP) or pull-through procedure. But before we went to Seattle Children's Hospital, we stopped at JoAnn's to check out their fabric selection. After awhile... B'Elanna got a bit bored... as you can tell from this picture.
With the car packed with fabric, we headed off to Seattle Children's Hospital. We arrived right before our Barium Enema appointment... only to find out it had been scheduled for July 12th instead of June 12th. Well, they fit us in... but as soon as I changed her into the gown... she started screaming. Then when they started the actual procedure... she bucked and jived and screamed until she was shaking... and after about 30 minutes of them trying, the Doctor said we could have to come back and have her sedated for the procedure. I told them we would need to do it that night, the next morning or right before her surgery. They were able to get us scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9am sedation and 10:30 procedure.
Afterwards, we had our clinic appointment with Dr. Avansino. He was very patient with me and ALL my questions. He let me know:
- B'Elanna will have her surgery on JULY 1ST!!
- Yes their will be scar tissue from her 1st surgery in China. His main concern is the amount of scarring their may be between the vagina and rectal walls. If their is alot... the main concern will be concern of a fistula forming.
- The surgery should be about 3 hours long.
- We should be in hospital for about 5-7 days... but considering our drive home to MT... he may keep us a little bit longer.
- The anal dilation's will go up to 14mm (possibly more) and will continue for about 8-9 months.
- The dilators will be provided by the hospital and billed to insurance... I do not need to go through Amazon to find them.
- They will have a Child Life Specialist consult with me while we are in hospital to come up with strategies for how to do the dilation's twice a day, by myself... when most of my friends on FB say that it takes both parents to be able to do the dilation's on their kids.
- From discharge to the post-op clinic appointment, B'Elanna will not be able to ride on my hip or on straddle toys. Extreme limiting her activities is not necessary... she will pretty much self-regulate he said. It will be better for her to be lying down or walking instead of sitting on her butt while recovering.
- After the post-op clinic appointment, she should be able to go swimming and most other activities.
The next day, Thursday, we came back for the Sedated Barium Enema appointment...it went SO much better. For now on, B'Elanna will be sedated for ALL her Procedures!!!! Then we got on the road for Spokane and, thankfully, Little Miss fell asleep for most of the drive.
On Friday, I went into the Spokane office for one of my applicants commissioning ceremonies and took B'Elanna with me. My friend, Aimee, brought her daughter, Goose, to work too, so the girls could entertain each other. This was the second time the girls have met and as you can see... they hit it right off.
