A Successful Surgery...

Dear Family and Friends,

As I write this, we are driving home from CHLA. It’s 1am and Everett is sleeping soundly in the car seat next to me. As with all things hospital related, patience is key and going with the flow a necessity. We arrived at CHLA at 1:30pm for a 3:30pm surgery. After getting checked in, we were brought into pre-op where we were warned that his surgeon had an emergency earlier in the day. This had delayed her scheduled cases. Zac and I try to remember that at one time, Everett was the emergency case that probably delayed another family, so we settled in for a long wait and tried to keep Everett distracted from his grumbling tummy. Somewhere around the two hours delayed mark, his surgeon stopped by and apologized profusely. She said it would be another two hours, at least, but if we were ok, she was ok to proceed as scheduled. Slowly the pre-op unit cleared out until it was just us and two other families. As the minutes wore on, Everett became more frustrated with the lack of food and water, but thanks to his iPad, the tears were not constant. At 7:45pm, we were finally ready to go. At the OR entrance we hugged and kissed and told him he was a big, strong boy. He wasn’t scared or crying, but was giggling about a joke the anesthesiologist made. It wasn’t traumatic or tearful and for that I’m very thankful. 

Everett was in the OR for over two hours. During that time they closed the surgery waiting room so we, and the two other families, were ushered into consult rooms on the OR floor. We were placed with a mom awaiting surgery results for her nine-year-old daughter. We got to talking. Small talk at first which then became deep conversations about having a hospitalized child; the feelings of isolation, the financial devastation, the worry, the responsibilities at home, the guilt...the weight of the reality. This woman was drowning in sadness and sorrow. She opened up to us and trusted us with her feelings. I was reminded of the couple who sat by us during Everett’s first surgery. They guided us through that experience. For this woman, who was suffering so much, I wanted to be that guide for her too. We listened. We acknowledged. We understood everything she said. I truly feel that we were delayed today so that we could be there with her. I pray her daughter has full healing. 

The surgery was complete around 10:15pm and Everett’s surgeon said it was a success. She (hopefully) treated the source of his pain and in three weeks time, he can return to normal activities. The anesthesiologist waited until he was asleep to start his IV and took it out before he really became aware it was there. His incisions are closed with a type of glue that don’t have any tape over them. For all these things we are so thankful. We left CHLA around 12:30am. We debated getting a hotel and staying another night, but Everett said he wanted to be home. For how strong and brave he was today, for how little he complained and for how he continues to amaze us with an understanding that is beyond his years, it is a small thing that we can do to drive him home in the middle of the night to reward his courage.

We thank all of you, Everett’s prayers warriors, for lifting him up and encouraging our entire family. Thank you for loving him as we love him. You have each made a difference in our lives. In closing, his surgeon told us tonight that on days when everything seems to be going wrong, when the gravity of her job makes her feel helpless, she often thinks of Everett as a symbol of hope. And with that, we all shed a tear together ❤️.  

Goodnight,

The Bollinger Family