Monday 5 November 2012

The Good . . .

Tuesday two weeks ago was the longed for day where the large screw was removed from Donald's tibia and fibula.  He hasn't been allowed to put any pressure on his foot since August 18, Soccer Grand Final day.  A long time for your muscles to deteriorate.  So he spent a day at the hospital and didn't feel so good afterwards.


 . . . but Donald can walk again, albeit tentatively.  He came out the next morning without crutches and has been improving every day since then.  Donald hasn't used his crutches in nearly two weeks.  Yay!!  Glad he's on the mend.



. . . the Bad

Sam and I visited the Paediatric Urologist on Wednesday two weeks ago and today we visited a different Paediatric Urologist, one who specialises in laparoscopy.  Sam's left kidney is still not draining so he will need surgery within the next month to prevent his kidney from deteriorating.  The first Urologist we visited told us everything we needed to know and that this was his area of expertise, his style of surgery was open surgery.  The surgeon we saw today does laparoscopic surgery or key hole surgery which is less invasive but a little more time consuming on the operating table.  So now we have to weigh up which way to go and who can perform the surgery for Sam within the next few weeks.  Sam has a PUJ obstruction and needs Pyeloplasty, surgery to correct the obstruction and allow his kidney to drain properly.

It's a rather complicated surgery, which involves a stent being inserted and removed a few weeks later.  He may also need further corrective surgery or at least be monitored regularly with MAG 3 scans to ensure the kidney is draining and there are no ill effects after surgery.  We really want to keep Sam's kidney functioning.  So now we just wait until the hospital tell us the date for surgery and absorb all of the information that I've been researching about this surgery.  We're keeping our fingers crossed it's not going to be on Sam's 13th birthday, November 22.



   At least for now my two big boys are still reasonably healthy and mobile.

. . . . and the Ugly

I've got blisters on my little toes from running in silly slip on sandals.  Sam and I were almost late for his appointment this morning and it took ages to get a car park at the hospital, only to find out we were at Westmead Hospital and not at Westmead Children's Hospital.  So in the 30°C heat we were running from one hospital to the other 5 minutes away.  I didn't want to give up our car park so we ran.  I think I'll spare you  pictures of my ugly blisters though.


4 comments:

Richard said...

Glad to hear that Don is better and hope that all goes well for Sam's op

Kathy Reeves said...

I know exactly what you mean about finding car parking at Westmead! It's a nightmare!!! Kendal had to see a urologist down at Westmead Children's Hospital. She was awesome (can't remember her name). Good luck with everything. Kathy

Carli said...

Poor love with your foot!

Carli said...

And so good to have answers for Sam, hoping very much that that bladder co-operates and he's not too anxious about things.