Alive and well...

Sweet jubilation, we walk into the recovery room only to find our baby - so out of it that she's still not entirely able to open her eyes.  She was under for about 8 hours and has tubes and wires everywhere.  The room is bright and there is a flurry of activity but I am only aware of one little body, in one big bed, looking tiny and vulnerable.  Mine.

This time, remarkably, I am able to stem the tears and find that inner strength that I was certain had been eradicated from my being; (welcome back Mrs Sensible!) Within minutes we are rolling her along to her new room in the ward.  On arrival she is swarmed by buzzing nurses and we are forced to step back and let them buzz.

Time again becomes fluid and is no longer relevant to my returning sanity.  Meg is awake and talking.  Boy oh boy, is she talking!  Her first request, "can I have my iPod?" sends me into fits of laughter (perhaps not all that funny - more response of relief that she is still the same kid, a Gen Z who cannot function without technology at her fingertips). With stoic interest she asks me if she looks taller, "Meg, you're lying down, I can't really tell..." I explain with a smile.  "Well, why don't you measure me then!" she suggests, really put out that I did not think of this obvious solution.

She wants photos of everything that she can't see, from her back to her neck, to anywhere that has a pipe, tube or wire.  At this point my darling daughter looks at the nurse and asks, "what are all these pipes and wires, what is going on?".  The nurse, professional in every way, begins a long explanation of each object, describing what it is and what it is for.  This detailed explanation takes a minute or three and Megan maintains eye contact the whole time.  Once the nurse stops talking she replies, "Thank you but I don't really need to know all of that!" and promptly falls asleep. This naturally once again sends us all into hysterical fits of laughter.

It's dark now, she wants to phone her friends and family, so we let her; she wants water, the nurse suggests ice blocks (ice-lollies for the South Africans) - she has four lemonade ice blocks before she is satisfied.  

She wants and so... she gets.  She is queen of all she surveys.  At about nine that night, it's just the two of us, she has been in and out, awake and asleep.  I am once more stable, lucid and calm.  Her eyes open, Megan looks at me and says, "Mum, I can't believe that I am having surgery today - I really should not be drinking!"  Clearly the morphine is keeping her happy...

It's 2am and Megan is crying, not because she is in pain but rather because I am being so mean!  I won't let her phone her friends and I won't let her phone her Dad, but most of all, I won't let her phone anyone!  She does not believe me that it's 2am.  I am lying when I explain that she called them all hours ago because she would remember that!  To appease my little savage I go and get her another ice block and now she also cracks the nod for some fruit juice.  Distraction is key to getting through this night, sleep - not so much!

Night blurs into day, with nurses in and out checking her every half hour, there has not been much sleep.  That was the longest day.

Day 1 post op:

Today, Meg got up and sat in a chair.  Can you imagine, on day 1 being expected to get out of bed?  Well she did it - then slept the rest of the day away in a haze of pain and morphine.  She woke for visits from her beloved family and that was about it.  I am really craving a bit of sleep but that is not going to happen for a while.  Oh well, things less important will just have to keep.

Day 2 post op: 

Meg has developed an allergy to the antibiotic and so all drains, drips and epidural were removed today. She is in a great deal of pain but they are keeping her comfortable with morphine. She has taken a walk around the ward but after that was very tired and slept a lot.  We watched Mirror Mirror at about 11pm but I am sure Meg won't even remember it!  She faded in and out the whole movie but would not let me switch it off.

Day 3 post op:
Megan  is doing really well - had a pretty good night and so far has had 2 big walks around the ward.  Her back is very sore so still quite doped out on morphine but she is resting comfortably. Probably will be able to go home on Monday - then friends can visit :) Allergy is still bad, now they think it may be the Morphine...maybe.  We bought Meg and her neighbour Liam MacDonalds to entice them to eat.  Sleeping at home tonight as I can no longer function, Haydn will do the Hospital Shift.

Day 4 post op: 

Slept a blissful 6 hours and came back to Starship this morning with more food and a smile. Her pain levels are still pretty high and she is frustrated because she has to wait for the nurse to bring medication now, instead of just pushing a button and getting an instant dose.  She is walking remarkably well.  I am so proud. 

Day 5 post op: 

Meg had a bad "trip" last night with a Morphine build up, had nightmares, twitching and hallucinations so they are trying new pain medication - will have to stay another day to make sure all okay. Slept about 2 hours - feeling wrecked!

Day 6 post op:

Well we are home now... 6 days at Starship Hospital - finally over, had my first full night back in my own bed - bliss. Now if I can just catch up on some sleep, I'll be rocking. Started working from home today - lucky me.  Meg is still doing very well but this is going to take some time...

I have so much more to say but now we are almost 2 months post op and Megan is great.  She is back at school part-time and rocking the Mall with her friends.  It is a long road and she still has a way to go but it is all good.

Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement.

Trace