Two Ears

Butters is looped after the happy meds the nurses gave him before going to the OR

The nurses let Butters ride in a blanket covered red wagon on his way to the OR

I thought I would go ahead and post an update on Butters' left ear implant surgery since he is sleeping.  

Surgery took nearly five hours and that was just for one ear.  Holy Bejeeeeeeeeezus!  We knew we were in for a longer surgery anyway since our ENT/surgeon had informed us that electric cauterization cannot be used to stop bleeding since Butters already has metal in his head from his right ear implant surgery.  And the Mondini's malformation also adds extra time since it's not simply a matter of inserting the electrode array.  You're dealing with a differently formed cochlea, the issue of getting as many electrodes to fit as possible, plus the risk of CSF fluid leaks - which Butters had during both of his surgeries.

And might I add, just like last time, we were not slated for early morning surgery.  Butters didn't get into the OR until one o'clock in the afternoon.   That also means extra time in the morning for Butters to fast.  This translates into dealing with one angry and ravenous little guy.

Butters had a blast socializing with everyone in the waiting room when we checked in.  He had an even better time once he got admitted into pre-care and got to see the nurses!  It was a much smoother process the second go-around, but if we had it to do all over again (which I really don't want to think about) we would have pushed for simultaneous bilateral implantation.  It was just as hard to watch my little happy fellow go into surgery yesterday as it was back in February.  

I got to meet some wonderful families at the Children's Hospital at UNC, and that's pretty much how you spend your time - since there is a lot of time that you have on your hands there while waiting on your child or waiting for news about your child.   

Butters was angry again during recovery, and he still isn't sure if we're going to send him back to the hospital again or not!  He is extremely wobbly, which is something our ENT warned us about mostly due to the Mondini's.  Even though this is temporary, Butters doesn't want to have to deal with any down time at all.  So, it's been a little tough for all of us and probably will be for the next day or two.

Now, we wait for activation number two!