Oliver and Company

Spencer and I traveled back to San Francisco this week for his 6 week post surgery appointment.  It's been a long 6 weeks and for the most part he has taken it in stride and tolerated life with one hand. However, we could all feel his pent up frustration growing and prayed that the bone fusion would be complete and the cast would be ready to be removed; otherwise the doctor would put on another one for 2 more weeks.  Here is how it went. . .

Here is Grandpa Doll and Spencer enjoying the cast saw with the technician.  And then off comes the cast to reveal layer upon layer of guaze and padding, no wonder the cast was so big!

  Next the doctor removed 2 of the 5 pins and then took x-rays to check on the status of the bone graft. X-rays revealed that all went perfectly and then the final 3 pins were taken out. Notice these are close up shots that do not include Spencer's sad little face. Who could blame him those pins were long and went through bone and took much yanking to get out, all without any anesthesia! I can assure you that Santa was watching the whole thing and such bravery will be rewarded! The first thing we did when we got home was to give him a long bath. There was a nasty smell under that cast along with dead skin combined with the fact that we've sponge bathed him since the surgery, he was past due! Doesn't his face just say "Ahhhh, this feels much better?"

  And here is the final result, mere perfection if you ask us. There are no other words I can use to describe this whole experience other than miraculous. A miracle to have found the only doctor on the west coast who specializes in Spencer's rare birth defect within 30 minutes of where my parents live. To have the doctor, hospital and anesthesiologist 100% covered by our health insurance, something we didn't know until after we had scheduled the surgery. That the surgery went perfectly and in time his hands will look and function normally. It's more than we could have asked for, a testament to the reality that Heavenly Father is over all and blesses us in big and small matters.

So what's next? First we'll enjoy an few weeks off for Christmas and then Spencer and I will travel back in January for another check-up. Then his right hand will have the same procedure in February. A few weeks later I should be having a baby and then the 2nd cast will come off late March or early April.