The hardest part of the procedure was the fasting. She cannot have anything to eat 8 hours before the procedure, and with a scheduled start time of 11:30, it was bound to be an obstacle of keeping food and drink out of her sight and mind.
At 10 am we settled into her room in the day hospital. The nurse asked what movie Phoebe wanted to watch and she chose "Brave". Her movie choice complimented the shirt she wore perfectly. Her shirt said "I'm a fighter".
The child life specialist helped keep the time flowing while we waited for Phoebe's endoscopy to begin. They were running a little behind, but between the movie, coloring and playing Phoebe didn't notice at all. Shortly after noon, we wheeled her a few feet down the hall from her room for her procedure.
In the procedure room Phoebe smiled, giggled and played with the doctors and nurses. Everyone commented how they had never seen a child so happy and relaxed while undergoing anesthesia. I stood by her bed side rubbing the side of her cheek, telling her she was just going to take a little nap and I would be waiting for her in her room. She smiled, yawned and fell asleep. I leaned down and kissed her cheek and walked back to her room.
A short 15 minutes after I had left her side, Phoebe was brought back to her room. She was still asleep and would be for a little while longer. They said kids usually sleep for a half hour longer than their procedure, so a nurse would be staying in her room with us to monitor her vitals and help wake her up. Little did we know it would not be that easy.
Phoebe gave us some difficulty waking up. It took us an additional forty five minutes to wake her up. It was definitely the scariest forty five minutes of my life. Her vitals were good and stable but she was not opening her eyes or moving when we tickled her or moved her. I started to pinch underneath her toes and started to get some wiggles and movement. By the time she opened her eyes I felt as though I had aged ten years. She was very groggy and wanted to go back to sleep, but she was awake and looking at me.
Once Phoebe was awake enough to eat some crackers and drink some juice they wanted to see if the anesthesia wore off enough for her to walk. Poor Phoebe was still so groggy and tired that she had to hold both of my hands to help keep her up to walk. As we walked out of her room she saw a big table full of toys and her eyes lit up! The nurse told her that she could pick any prize she wanted from the table for being so brave!
With her prize chosen and being able to swallow and walk some, they discharged us to go home.
The biopsy results should be in on Friday, so all we can do now is wait.
Photos:
1- Watching "Brave" wearing her "I'm a fighter" shirt
2- Phoebe and baby Cruella wearing their gowns
3- Coloring and watching "Brave"
4- Phoebe's eyes are finally open!!
5- Phoebe has been discharged and is ready to go home