Ellie's Surgery

On Monday, June 9th, we go in for Ellie's surgery. She is having a hemangioma next to her eye lasered and her tongue clipped. A hemangioma can be translated into "bloody tumor". It is most common in premature babies, girls and Caucasians. We went to a pediatric opthomologist who recommend treatment, since it can put pressure on her optic nerve/eyeball and nasal passage. Want to hear something interesting? The doctor recommended we see "the best plastic surgeon in Atlanta, but it's hard to get on his calendar." It turns out that the occupational therapist we saw a couple of days earlier to help figure out why Ellie wasn't eating had already made an appointment with this very doctor! Yay!!!

For the hemangioma, there are two lasers. One will work on the blood blister-y looking thing on the outside of her skin. The second laser will work to reduce the capilary congestion under the skin. The lasers will also help stun the cells to tell them to stop growing. Hemangiomas have life cycles, so we don't know if we'll have to have the laser treatment again. Hopefully, this will treat it and life will be good! A biology professor I work with had her son treated for the same thing, so it was helpful to see pictures and hear about hemangiomas from someone who actually paid attention in biology class! :)

For the tongue tie, the surgeon is going to do a "Z" cut on her frenlum (the dohicky that you see when you lift your tongue up to the roof of your mouth). The "Z" cut is supposed to prevent it from growing back. We are praying that this will help kick Ellie's feeding into high gear.

Artie and I are a bit nervous about the surgery, since the doctor has to put her under for it. The main reason he is putting her under is because he has to use lasers. And, really? I can't blame him. Ellie is really wiggly these days! :)

People ask if Ellie can feel the hemangioma. We don't think she can; she doesn't appear to be in any pain. She has learned what her hands are and will rub her little face with them. Every time she rubs her "strawberry", I cringe. But, she never fusses about it.

We have to be at Children's Hospital at 6am on Monday. If you have met me for more than 20 minutes, you know I am not a morning person. The surgery doesn't start until 7:45. We can't give Ellie formula after midnight the night before. Then, she can have breast milk until 1:45 and Pedalyte until 3:45 am. So, THAT part shouldn't be hard. And Ellie, like her mom, is a VERY good sleeper.

So, I ask you to pray/think about Ellie on Monday. I will post pictures and update this on Monday afternoon (hopefully)! The doctor said she'll be under for about 10 minutes for the entire procedure. We should be home a couple of hours later.