Adiós Appendix

Spencer went into surgery just before noon today.  The surgeons concern was that they could see a large area of fluid, which could mean that the appendix had perforated, or it could be the start of appendicitis.  Either way it has to come out, so that it will.  So around 10am they brought us up to the pre-surgery area.  Spencer has what we now know as "severe anxiety"  could even be PTSD of sorts.  Especially now that he is getting a little bit older, he is starting to understand how serious Tucker's heart condition really is.  He was terrified from the moment that we stepped foot into the ER.  Even going far enough to ask Gary and I if he would have to get shots or have a big boo-boo on his belly like Tucker.   It broke our hearts...

We were blessed to receive a Linus Project Blanket in the pre-op area.   Spencer was so cold, so it was very much appreciated as we arrived in the ER with only the clothes on our backs.   WOW...the irony.   #warminghearts

After a little over an hour...Spencer's surgeon came to the waiting area and advised us that they had just got his appendix out before it burst into his plural space.  It was huge and had been large and growing for quite some time.  At Spencer's request, he wanted to see what it looked like,  as the surgeon said... it looks like a little worm.  Looks more like a giant snake to me.   

So after many rounds of anxiety and pain meds,  The anesthesiologist finally listened to Gary and I and agreed to let us take him home.  By then...Spencer's anxiety was epic, and the little girl that had just got tubes in her ears was not making his anxiety any less.  (So thankful that they moved her across the floor to make him more comfortable)  So we woke him up and tried to get him to eat,  nothing.   So they discharged him home to finish recovering.  Per MD orders, he had to take it easy for a while and no sports or running until we see Spencer back in clinic next Friday.   

Feeling so sad that this had to happen to our little boy.   #blessed #nosleep #goodnight

So...This just friggin happened...

So...I guess it's time for another update.  I have been very vocal about not being a "mini van driving soccer" mom.  Hell if you know me at all, you would say how accurate that statement really is.  I swear that this GIANT black cloud keeps following our family. 

Yesterday, we had a typical day, I took the boys to the $1 movies and then out for some errands, then to Davis Farmland, they jumped and played all afternoon.  When we returned home, Spencer complained of a belly ache, as he sometimes does when he doesn't eat, so I made him dinner and he refused to eat it,  I have him a freeze pop and then he went to bed.   Around midnight, Spencer woke up screaming in pain, begging me to take him to the hospital, which was the first sign that something drastic was wrong.  I drove him to Clinton Hospital and we were there for maybe 15 minutes and he was wailing in agony.  They placed an IV line in his elbow and he couldn't stop screaming about it hurting...It was constant.   He was terrified!  So after some blood work, Zofran and an attempt at starting some hydration... we were transferred to the pediatric center in Worcester at UMASS.  Before we left they habe him some Tylenol for his pain,  which really helped his headache subside.

Spencer talked the entire ride to the EMT, asked a bunch of questions about the supplies on board.   It was cool to see him so inquisitive, but when asked, he politely declined that he would go info the medical field.  

Once we got in Worcester,  Spencer screamed for hours over the pain.   After they gave him his ultrasound he received morphine,  which had taken hours to work.   They pushed some IV  antibiotics and we waited for the results...

They think that Spencer's Appendix has preforated due to a appendiceal lumen, or a appendixlumen.  Long story short... He is having emergency surgery to remove it, the course of treatment is very different if it hasn't ruptured vs if it has ruptured...please pray for the latter.