Cleft Clinic Donation

 The kids giving blankies to Nurse Nancy at Cleft Clinic so they can be given to new cleft families.

  Tom and Connie Norden gave a monetary donation so I could buy more supplies and continue to make blankies for cleft clinic as a way to reach out to others.  

Summer Vacations

Hocking Hills

Let's Zip Line!

 Niagara Falls, Canada

Pharyngeal Flap Surgery

So this surgery was a hard one!  I haven't seen my little man in so much pain since his palate repair when he was one.  The pharyngeal flap surgery was to help correct his speech and prevent him from losing air through his nose when he talks.  Surgery was in Columbus and he stayed overnight.  He was in quite a bit of pain and needed pain meds every few hours to help manage the pain right after surgery.  Recovery consists of soft diet for 3 weeks, no speech therapy for 3 weeks during recovery, and no sports/low activity level for 3 weeks as well.

 Walking into the hospital the day of surgery like a champ!

 Picking a prize from the ocean room

 Recovery...

 At home a few days post op

Grandma always gets the best gifts :)

Happy 8th Birthday!!

Nationwide Children's Cleft Clinic

So after our last visit to cleft clinic in Toledo we were told to follow up with the pediatric oral surgeon to check the status of Bubba's dental development to see when he would be due to get his bone graft surgery.  After many road blocks locally due to physicians retiring, new physicians starting and not yet being on our insurance panel, we decided to go to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus to get him evaluated there.  I don't regret this decision.  Although we have to travel 2 1/2 hours now for these visits, I was very impressed with the quality of care we received.  As it turned out, Bubba has very delayed dental development and will not likely be ready for the bone graft surgery for at least another year or so.  Meanwhile, while assessing Bubba, the new team found some other concerns that needed attention.  One issue noted was velopharyngeal insufficiency requiring surgery in order to improve his speech and the other issue was a fistula in his palate, also requiring surgery in the near future (otherwise his future bone graft surgery may be rejected).  Although this news was unexpected and hard to swallow, I am so glad time hasn't slipped by without these issues being addressed.  I want the best for my son and his future, and although it pains me to see him go through all of this, I know that in the long run it will be worth it for him.

Urethral Surgery

 Bubba was born with a hypospadius which was repaired when he was 9 months old.  Recent urinary staph infections and some other symptoms led us to believe something was wrong.  Turns out he had a fistula that needed to be repaired.  So...another surgery!

7 (and a 1/2) years later...

Sorry for the big gap in postings.  Life has been very busy to say the least.  All I can say is that it's a different kind of busy as your little one gets older.  School and extracurricular activities seemed to replace the running around after the toddler, but I'm happy to report Bubba is doing well.  We have had some medical battles this past year unfortunately, but we are hoping that after his surgery next month the urinary issues will be resolved.  He has had some ongoing staph UTIs so he will be having reconstructive surgery in November.  Bubba also had another set of ear tubes put in this year as his hearing had taken another nose dive when the prior T-tubes fell out.  Conductive hearing loss impacted his learning and performance at school significantly so the tubes were a necessity.  Recently he attended Cleft Clinic and we were told his next palate surgery/bone grafting will be approaching soon.  We have x-rays scheduled soon to give us a more definitive time frame.  I've gotta say I'm really nervous about this.  It's interesting to note that the older my son gets the more inquisitive he is at these appointments.  So not only do I get to absorb the information, but I get to answer questions such as "Why do I have to have surgery on my mouth again?  It's fine."  "Why are they going to take my bone out of my hip?  If they do that I will die mom!!"  It's never ending, but I assure you, as a parent you will find the right words to help them through this.  At least I have so far, and by the grace of God I will continue to try my best.