Two, 2 and 1,2

There are 2! 2 were seen! 2 remain! 2 intact stitches were viewed by Dr. Rahbar in Sloane's airway yesterday!!! Exactly what we wanted.....2!

Sloane is 3 weeks post-op and Tuesday was the day for our airway scope with Dr. Rahbar. I will save everyone the details and just simply say....it did not go well at all. The results could not have been more wonderful. Two stitches STILL intact and healing just the way Dr. Rahbar wanted. A huge sigh of relief could be heard throughout the room and actually across the country as my hubby was down south. Ha!

The scope itself was horrible. I am pretty sure that is the word mammie used to describe it to poppie. It was either horrible or terrible. Either way, quite accurate. Sloane was beyond upset, physically aggressive to protect her orifices from him entering them and inconsolable to the point that Dr. Rahbar left the room for her to calm down in between attempts to scope her.

It was the 2nd attempt with 4 adults holding her down that got the job done. Pretty terrible, pretty horrible. Everyone in the room felt badly when all was said and done. There was no choice. We needed to know.....how had her recovery gone, what kind of healing was happening, and were there 2???

And there are 2! Here is where we stand:

Sloane will not see Dr. Rahbar for 6 months to check-in, follow-up, re-group. His words were clear....carry on as we have...not a problem as I THINK Sloane is coughing less when taking in large gulps of liquids. :)  He also wanted us to remember this isn't just a cleft issue anymore...it is also an airway issue. We understand as her airway was made tighter. And yes, I do think at times that she is noisier than she had been...usually when she is winded.

We will discontinue her inhaler in a few weeks after her swelling dissipates and any residual secretions have had time to work themselves out. We may bring it back out into rotation for next winter. I'm sure we will discuss at our 6 month check-up.

Sloane collapsed on the ride home which hasn't happened in over a year. She was drained. There was a trip to Toys R Us for a prize ($9.00 baby stroller) and the old faithful cup of watermelon Del's.

One of my dearest friends today said to me...I am so glad this is behind you now. You can enjoy your summer without worrying about any of this.....And that is the truth. I am very relieved our 2nd cleft repair is behind us and looking forward to going back to normal life without an impending surgery looming around us....

Tomorrow is Sloane's last day of her first year of preschool.........OMG!!