We have a lot of people ask us what comes next in regards to Elvie's medical care. With one day home from the hospital under our belts, I don't have a lot of answers. We need to get the wound all healed up and be free of the wound vac. We'll follow up with both surgery and urology to make sure that everything is functioning as it should. She will remain on antibiotics to prevent UTIs until urology says we can stop. The eventual physical goal is that she will be able to be ambulatory. We're not sure how much the right leg will come down on its own now that the other corrections have been made. We'll do our best with physical therapy and then likely have to make some surgical decisions. This, however, was the biggest surgery she'll need, the one that was essential to her health.
What I found to be true the past six months of getting Elvie healthy for surgery is that she does a lot on her own. She is motivated. She wants to eat plenty of bottles, she wants to try to move around, she wants to do more stuff as soon as possible*. While we of course intend to be responsible and pursue physical therapy, I think a lot of gains will be made simply by letting her do her thing. She's got it in her; we just have to allow her to let it out.
*Except eat solid food. Still no interest. She does seem to enjoy cat treats, though. Don't ask us how we know that.
What I found to be true the past six months of getting Elvie healthy for surgery is that she does a lot on her own. She is motivated. She wants to eat plenty of bottles, she wants to try to move around, she wants to do more stuff as soon as possible*. While we of course intend to be responsible and pursue physical therapy, I think a lot of gains will be made simply by letting her do her thing. She's got it in her; we just have to allow her to let it out.
*Except eat solid food. Still no interest. She does seem to enjoy cat treats, though. Don't ask us how we know that.
Elvie looks so, so good, even after surgery, all chub and spark and life. Your parenting is to be commended, but I agree she does so much on her own! She seems to really enjoy doing "the work" too. Keep rockin' life, Elvie!
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to send a big hug to Zinashi. I know she adores her baby sister, and I know she suffered while you were at the hospital. She deserves a gold star for patience. She is such an awesome person!
So, so, SO happy for you all. I know you're not completely out of the woods or back to normal and all that, but you've got the worst behind you. Yay! Anxious to see how she progresses. In the meantime, I hope lots of sleep is in your immediate future! Oh, and chocolate. And maybe good coffee, too. And sister time. And....yeah. Relax. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm just catching up again. I'm so glad to hear that you are back home and feeling positive about things. Thanks so much for keeping the rest of us updated through it all. And now hang in there!
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