Friday, March 06, 2009

The bright red cast...

My brother and I waited in the family area talking to the other mom (T) about her baby S. I just stepped out after about half an hour when I saw an OR nurse wheeling out the stroller in which they took KB inside. I asked him how much longer the surgery would take and he said it was already done and they are now putting the cast on him. I was very surprised and relieved to know it was over already. I had expected to wait for an hour and a half. But we had to wait another half an hour for them to allow us into the recovery room. B had to stay with KG in the family area while I went in to see KB. They had a little crib kind of bed made of steel, I guess to prevent kids from falling out etc. KB was still fast asleep under the effect of the anesthesia. The IV needles were still connected and he did not have his shirt on. Just a pillow on top of his chest. He still had his pants and shoes on him. My first instinct was that he would be cold and I asked the nurse about it. She said he wasn't cold since they keep the room temperature warm and he had a pillow on his chest. He looked suddenly so much more grown up in the kind of expression his sleeping face had. It is so hard to put into words.

I went out to the family area and let B in to see KB. While B was waiting there, the nurse tried to wake him up just so they could make sure he was able to recognize us, was able to speak clearly etc before transferring him to the main hospital (out of the surgery unit) for the night.
When KB woke up, he started crying immediately asking for "Mammma". So B told me to rush in and I came running to see KB. As soon as I held his fingers, he was calm. Half awake but clearly recognizing us all. I asked him if he wanted me to sing "Mudakaratha modakam" a song he has heard me sing nearly every day. He said yes. I sang softly into his ears. The nurse was passing by and I asked her how long before we get transferred to the hospital. KB even in his half asleep state was following my singing. He got upset that I was not continuing. So I quickly started singing again. He fell asleep again while I waited there. A few minutes later, he woke up again and looked up and said "Hey, anga paaru, sea horse!" (Look there, a sea horse), pointing a picture above him. After sometime the nurse told us which room we would be moving to at the hospital for an over night stay before being discharged. They wheeled KB as it is in the crib bed and we (myself, B, KG and my brother) followed the nurse to the next building.

The day before the surgery, at the doctor's office, they had asked KB what color cast he would like to get on his fractured elbow. He looked at the spectrum of colors on display and picked "red" instantly. B blames it on my influence. He says I don't even realize how much I gravitate towards red when it comes to clothes. When I saw KB in the recovery room, I was disappointed to see him in a blue cast because they had specifically asked KB what color he wanted but gave him the wrong color. To a child, these things matter. When KB was moved to a bed at the main hospital, he noticed his cast and immediately said, "hey, why didn't they give me red?!". I told him some random reason but KB did not buy it. It was close to 7.00 p.m. already, KG had to be fed. So they left and I was alone with KB. I told the nurse around 8.00 pm that KB had not peed since 2.00 pm. She said that I could give him juice and then if he tolerated it well, we could then coax him to pee. She said it he did not pee even after four more hours, they would then use a catheter. I was again afraid of one more procedure on him, so my immediate goal was to get him to pee after drinking his juice. Thankfully that all went OK and the nurse gave him stickers even for that! KB had a field day because I gave him juice when ever he asked for it. And different flavors each time! Because he hadn't eaten anything all day. We sat and watched some baby Einstein programme on TV and then I read some books and told him stories. He complained of the cast feeling too tight, so they had given him morphine. He was not sleepy at all and said that he would only sleep at home. I somehow convinced him that we could only go home the next morning. Finally around 11.40 pm, he fell asleep. I slept right next to him in his bed itself. I hardly got some two or three hours of sleep that night. But KB slept well for the most part except when he had to get up to go to the bathroom.

The next morning when the surgeon came on rounds, KB answered his questions about how he was feeling etc and immediately said to him, "WHY didn't you give me red?!". The surgeon was really sweet about it and said that he knew at the back of his mind that he had messed up. He then apologized and said one week later, when he put on another layer, he would give KB a red cast. I really appreciated the kindness with which the doctor talked to KB and really understood that these little things matter to the child.

BTW - I am writing all this so I don't forget about it all - I don't mean to bore you all with fine details. I am assuming people will skip over to read the gist if they do read this post! I want to write about the other two moms and the coincidental meeting with two other parents at Party city...but I am too sleepy now to continue. Hope to write about that in the next post.

12 comments:

Mamma mia! Me a mamma? said...

Catch up on your sleep, girl. We're not going anywhere. We'll all be right here when you wake up.

*softly sings a lullaby*

Collection Of Stars said...

Am glad that KB came out fine from the whole ordeal.
And, no, I was not at all bored reading all the small things.
I know what you meant the color of the cast and how it matters to children. You know, most adults including parents don't think it's a big deal but it is for the child.
Hope KB gets his red cast next week.
Take care.

Rohini said...

Gosh! Just read all three posts in a row and don't know where to start! I am sorry poor KB fractured his arm - my stomach turned just thinking about that and him having to undergo surgery. I do think he was awfully brave. Give the little trooper a HUG from me.

Cantaloupes.Amma (CA) said...

Noonie ... just read all 3 posts ... KB is a trooper !! He has shown tremendous courage through this ... hugs to him and YOU !!

The red cast it HAS to be ... afterall he was given a choice and not that he demanded it.

Btw, "Mudakararta Modakam" is something I sing everyday for my girls too ... it energizes me and the girls :)

Tharini said...

Keep writing Noonie. ALl your little detaills just make your experience that much more vivid to us. I had such feel good feelings reading t he last few posts, after having the relief of knowing taht everything went well. God bless you all.

Anonymous said...

OMG noonie, I just read the last three posts (with all the traveling, I have missed many of my daily dose), but this touched my heart. KB is such a great kid - true soldier indeed. God bless you, and hope KB heals soon.

Sunita Venkatachalam said...

Oh dear oh dear oh dear, after you said Bye, I'd stopped checking your blog. By chance I stopped by.

I do hope KB is better now, how's he coping with limited use of his hands?

Am very anxious and my heart was in my mouth but you've described it beautifully. Some of the things you said I will remember for a long time

(((HUGS)))

Anonymous said...

hi noon, ive posted once before. i am SO SO glad Kb is doing better. i dont know you at all, but i really mean it.

Neera said...

Hugs noonoo ..just read all the 3 posts ..just wanted to come back to ur blog and check if u had an update for KB and KG but felt so bad and shocked to read this. U know when u track friends' kids growing up, the question comes very naturally why them?

But I am proud of KB, the little soldier and of u too. The meeting with the brave moms, u fighting ur own feelings .. u r so right abt the real parenting being put to test during such times.

Sending u a big hug and loads of hugs and kisses to KB.

My Kids said...

Hi noon,
I am so glad that KB tolerated the surgery well.
Take care
Padma

Preethi said...

Make sure he gets that red layer next time:) he is such a cutie!!! get some rest both of you!!

the mad momma said...

dont stop noonie. Though i've heard it all from you, I want to read about the details. He's so brave.. our little big boy....

big hugs