Our son recently went in for a minor procedure that ended with a scare.
He has something called Osgood Schlatter's Disease. It had been bothering him for awhile and with x-rays the doctor noticed some bone spurs in the tendon. His doctor was excellent in making sure all options were exhausted before moving on to surgery. On top of that, Logan was apprehensive about the possibility of stunting his growth. We joke about the fact that he is so tall already, he's going to bypass both his parents. He only has to pass his dad now though...I was bypassed long ago.
We looked at the images and his doctor decided that maybe taking out the bone spurs that wiggled their way into his tendon would help his pain. He is such an active kid that the discomfort was enough to prevent him from actually being able to do the things that he loved.
Surgery day came and even though we were nervous, we were pretty comfortable with everything. He was in great hands and at the right hospital should anything arise.
The surgery itself wasn't supposed to be long. Say about 45 minutes and some prep time before and after. Logan's dad and I waited and finally his doctor came out saying all went well. We should see him within 30 minutes and get to go home.
A few hours pass and we check to see what was going on. The nurse reassured us but was willing to go ask and see how he was. Not long after she comes back with the anesthesiologist. I know at that moment we were both quite concerned. It's not often that you are told to take a seat. The worst ran through both of our heads. He reassured us that Logan was alert and talking, but had issues once the tube was taken out.
His vocal chords contracted and allowed negative pressure to build up into his lungs, resulting in fluid filling them fully. He had a team working on him and we were able to rush back and see him. The bypap machine was on him helping create positive pressure so that his lungs could push out the fluid. They had also given him lasix and explained that he would be transferred to PICU. We were doing all that we could to hold it together. It was great to see him, but the sight of him was scary. He was pale and hooked up to the machine helping keep his oxygen above the 80's.
We briefly gave him a fist bump before they called with an open room. He was wheeled over to PICU with us trailing behind. Our nerves were, and still are shot. We have definitely hovered over him the past couple of days.
We called family and friends and prayers were put in. During each phone call, this boy was more concerned about everyone else over himself. We both tear up when we talk about it now. His heart is so big and it broke us to see him like that.
When I tell you that the whole PICU team was excellent inmaking sure that he was okay the entire time, I just cannot say it enough. They were all amazing, even checking on us parents as well. You could tell that they all really cared and were there to help. Night shift and morning shift doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, the whole unit was just oustanding.
By midnight, Logan was more than ready for the food that he was promised early in the day. The doctors and nurses decided that he could go off of the face mask and move to the nose cannula. If he did well, he could try fluids and possibly eat. His oxygen stayed in the 90's and he continued to impress.
Around 2:00 in the morning he was cleared to eat. We ran to the McDonald's right next door and got him some food. Those first bites were the best thing ever according to him at that time. Poor guy. We were just so thankful to see him able to eat.
By the next morning he was finally breathing room air and sounded nice and clear again. He ate breakfast and was able to get up briefly for a small walk. The doctors cleared him to go home and the smile on all of our faces was plastered for a bit.
We're so thankful for everyone involved in caring for Logan as well as the prayers and phone calls. Logan has been doing so good since he got home.
