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My heart feels sad.
Last week, we consulted with a second surgeon regarding
Zane’s scoliosis. My goal is to find the best surgeon we can to implant Zane’s
growth rods because there’s no question: he needs surgery. And Zane is a very medically complex kiddo. Unfortunately, we
don’t live in a state with a hospital highly rated for this type of procedure.
Maybe if we moved to Pennsylvania or traveled west to San Diego, then Zane
would be at a premiere facility where they specialize in pediatric spinal
surgery. So we’ve done the best we can, given our current circumstances.
Zane’s thoracic curvature is now 70 degrees. His lumbar is
around 50. It’s time. Because soon, his lungs will be impacted, which obviously
will prove detrimental to his respiratory system.
The projected date is somewhere in September or October,
pending insurance approval. The surgeon wants to use a rod called Magec. The
advantage to this is that instead of undergoing invasive surgery to lengthen
the rods every six months, they can be manipulated using magnet technology and
remote controls. For someone like Zane, this seems like an advantage since
anesthesia and incisions create an increased chance of respiratory distress,
infections, and skin breakdown.
But I’m nervous. A little scared, frankly. Because of so
many things. But the main concerns are problems during surgery, pain control
(he has a sensitivity to narcotics), Zane’s comfort since he’s on his back so
much of the time, post-surgery complications, and post-surgery care on my own.
One of the things I’m currently grateful for is that Zane
doesn’t know he’s having this surgery, so he isn’t fretting or burdened by
anxiety. He can continue to enjoy each moment until he awakens from surgery to
a boatload of pain. I'd do anything to have the surgery in his place. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way.
At the end of all of this, my hope is that he'll be much more comfortable with his straight(er) spine.
