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... and the big day arrives
I have been gone this week for work, and am glad to be home. I arrived back late Thursday night, just in time to snuggle up to Dexter for a while before dropping him off at NWVS early Friday morning. My husband was nice enough to put a webcam in the living room, so I was able to "tune in" to the KDEX and WZTA channels any time I felt the need to connect. Not much movement from Dex over the week - except when he was completely destroying electronic equipment.
But that's another story. Let's just say it turns out he's got separation anxiety, and that perhaps I've created a "mama's boy." We need to deal with that for sure. The point is that he wasn't doing well and didn't move around much. When I got home I could see why. He was much more lame in one leg than he had been when I left. Clearly uncomfortable. More uncomfortable on Thursday than he was Sunday when I left.
The question of whether they'd do the surgery has been hanging over us. So we took him in early Friday, and they took an x-ray. Turns out he's only grown (in his femur) 2mm since they saw him last. He's grown four feet everywhere else it seems like, but where it counts he's really about done. So.... they decided they could do the surgery. They had already taken him back and had to sedate him for the x-ray (I believe he was very nervous, so he wiggled a lot) so we didn't get to see him again before leaving. We signed papers and put a deposit on him and off we went.
I do not know what they did with him all day yesterday. Prepped him, fitted the new hips, got him calmed down I guess. This morning they called at 8:13 and told us they were starting. Assuming they do both hips, they'll be done at around 2pm. They plan to call me in between to let me know how it's going.
So now this is all too real in two ways.
1. I hate to admit this, but at this time in our lives, with the economy as it is, having to put an $8000 surgery on a credit card scares the crap out of me. I do it gladly for my boy, because I want him to be healthy and strong. But none of us will be healthy if we are roaming the streets homeless. I can get from credit card debt to foreclosure very easily in my brain.
2. Over and above that - because honestly what's the point of worrying about the $$ right now?? - they are doing something huge and scary to my baby, and I'm scared as hell. Was he scared and alone? Does he think I've abandoned him? Did they give him a bit of love and kiss him on top of his head, like I would have?
I have had all-too-many surgeries myself. I've walked in Dexter's paws. He needs the kiss.
I'll post an update when I hear something. Thanks to all for your kind words and support.
But that's another story. Let's just say it turns out he's got separation anxiety, and that perhaps I've created a "mama's boy." We need to deal with that for sure. The point is that he wasn't doing well and didn't move around much. When I got home I could see why. He was much more lame in one leg than he had been when I left. Clearly uncomfortable. More uncomfortable on Thursday than he was Sunday when I left.
The question of whether they'd do the surgery has been hanging over us. So we took him in early Friday, and they took an x-ray. Turns out he's only grown (in his femur) 2mm since they saw him last. He's grown four feet everywhere else it seems like, but where it counts he's really about done. So.... they decided they could do the surgery. They had already taken him back and had to sedate him for the x-ray (I believe he was very nervous, so he wiggled a lot) so we didn't get to see him again before leaving. We signed papers and put a deposit on him and off we went.
I do not know what they did with him all day yesterday. Prepped him, fitted the new hips, got him calmed down I guess. This morning they called at 8:13 and told us they were starting. Assuming they do both hips, they'll be done at around 2pm. They plan to call me in between to let me know how it's going.
So now this is all too real in two ways.
1. I hate to admit this, but at this time in our lives, with the economy as it is, having to put an $8000 surgery on a credit card scares the crap out of me. I do it gladly for my boy, because I want him to be healthy and strong. But none of us will be healthy if we are roaming the streets homeless. I can get from credit card debt to foreclosure very easily in my brain.
2. Over and above that - because honestly what's the point of worrying about the $$ right now?? - they are doing something huge and scary to my baby, and I'm scared as hell. Was he scared and alone? Does he think I've abandoned him? Did they give him a bit of love and kiss him on top of his head, like I would have?
I have had all-too-many surgeries myself. I've walked in Dexter's paws. He needs the kiss.
I'll post an update when I hear something. Thanks to all for your kind words and support.
Tags: dexter, hip, replacement, surgery
3 Comments
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Comment by Andrea Schneider on May 3, 2008 at 9:59am
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Hi Allison & Dexter,
Thanks for the update. The money part is very intense and I can see why it's so worrisome. Maybe sometime we can establish some kind of general fund to help people, I don't know.
After this surgery on Dexter, do you now go away? Where is he staying while you are gone?
This kisses in the air that land on his head constantly, with love from you and all of us.
Andrea
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Comment by Allison Anderson on May 3, 2008 at 1:54pm -
Andrea - thanks for the good thoguhts. Update from Dr. Lozier at about 1pm was that they could only do one hip. The muscles were stretched so badly, and the joing luxated so badly that they were concerned about doing both. They did his left, which is the one he has not been putting any weight on. He also said something to my husband about him having a nerve reaction even while under anesthesia. That was something the dr. had not seen before. Don't know what it means! Good news is that we may pick him up later today! We have a few things to finish so that we are ready for him, but it would be great to have him home so we could love him back to health.
We will go ahead and leave on vacation next Friday - because of the good, loving care we know we'll get from Nicole, we are feeling much better about getting away. Thank you SO SO much for your help figuring this out!
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Allison,
Please give Dexter a kiss from Ellie and me. I feel so bad about how hard this is on all of you and of course Dexter. Poor Baby. Remind me who is Nicole? I'm sure Dex will be so happy to be home and getting better. Will he have to go back for another surgery?
Dex is so lucky to have such loving parents. I'm glad this site was so helpful. That's a community in action.
Andrea
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