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| DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY... HE DID! JR PROM 2012 |
They say that pictures speak louder than words, so this post is going to be full of photo's. My words cannot possibly describe the huge-ormous amount of fear, excitement, anxiety, happiness, sadness, joy, and just plain old sense of relief that the last three months are actually done, over, finished, complete!
Kenneth is our light, he is our youngest son (he will be 18 in November) and I love him more than anything. This has been a rough year for him, but once again he has proven Dr.'s wrong by coming through a seven hour surgery pretty much unscathed. He has an 8+ inch steel rod in his back that starts at his neck and extends all the way down to all but the last two vertebrae. There are also 24 screws (bolts) running each side of his spine.
Thank goodness we flew to Disneyland in February-he would NEVER make it through security now!
But first, Jr. Prom... it came, he went!! What fun!! We went and tried on Tuxedo's and ended up buying Kenneth his own Tux. We were worried about the fines and fees if anything happened to it during the "rental" period (oh my-did this exist when I was a kid?) so we just purchased one for him. He can use it for his Senior Prom. *HUGE smile*
Prom night came and he was ready to go, dinner at Elements (a nice local restaurant) then THE Prom at the adjoining Marriott. I got to pin his boutonniere on his lapel (he was so cute!) and then he sat down and had a little chat with dad about appropriate behaviors at dinner and while dancing. He assured us that he was going to be fine, he loved to dance, loved pretty girls and was ready for a steak and baked potato! (Oh my..) I have to admit, my vision got a little blurry, and he was off!
When they put the IV in Kenneth everyone was crying; there was no room in the pre-op room; mom and dad were there, Aunt Alycia was there, Mom Mel was there, the thoughts and prayers of all of you were there (I could feel them, thank you so much) his doctors were there and in just a couple of minutes he had charmed all the nurses around him. The doctors had told us that it was very possible that he would experience a severe bleed out and if that happened they would halt the surgery and try again later. Apparently this happens a lot-and they do not take chances. At all.
Kenneth went into the recovery room and we waited. He came to and just looked at us and then fell back to sleep. They wheeled him into a room with a couch and rocking chairs and tables and other chairs; they were setting us up for a long stay! When Kenneth woke up again, they asked him if he was in pain and he said NO! We all looked at each other thinking "is this kid for real?" He was. He was in the hospital for almost six days and only one time when they asked him if he was hurting, did he say yes. Just once.
Cache Valley Specialty Hospital is a small, semi-private hospital and it was a quiet holiday weekend when Kenneth had his surgery. Kenneth is a joy and always has a surprise for us. The day before he was released to go home he decided to let us know he hurt! The nurses removed the bandages (I won't post pictures Jenny Poo, don't worry!) and as they gently ripped off the tape that covered the long row of stitches my little boy who had been so quiet and calm SCREAMED out F&#K!!! for the world to hear. "That HURTS!" he told the nurses. Stop pulling that off!
I am used to swear words popping out of his mouth at inopportune times as is anyone that has known Kenneth for the past seventeen years. Come to think of it, I am glad he only dropped one; they often come out in multiples. However I think the nurses were about to pass out. One of them turned about ten shades of red, the other just let her jaw drop and stared at him. So, it didn't hurt to have the steel rods and screws put in, the incisions made and sewn up, but it hurt to have the band aid taken off? WTH??? OK, Kenneth.. I only wish I felt pain like you do!
He has been in a brace for the last two and a half months, but he is swimming and starting to get back to normal. He should be able to take it off in about two weeks. But....
The best part of all was a bit of news that the doctor did not tell us in advance. When they perform the surgery they attempt graph bone from different parts of the body to the spine. If this is successful then the bone will fuse to itself and regenerate-literally growing a healthy new STRAIGHT spine around the rod and screws that they put in. Dr. Felix told us that in about two years Kenneth will be able to have all the hardware taken out because of the success of the surgery and bone regeneration!
Kenneth is our light, he is our youngest son (he will be 18 in November) and I love him more than anything. This has been a rough year for him, but once again he has proven Dr.'s wrong by coming through a seven hour surgery pretty much unscathed. He has an 8+ inch steel rod in his back that starts at his neck and extends all the way down to all but the last two vertebrae. There are also 24 screws (bolts) running each side of his spine.
Thank goodness we flew to Disneyland in February-he would NEVER make it through security now!But first, Jr. Prom... it came, he went!! What fun!! We went and tried on Tuxedo's and ended up buying Kenneth his own Tux. We were worried about the fines and fees if anything happened to it during the "rental" period (oh my-did this exist when I was a kid?) so we just purchased one for him. He can use it for his Senior Prom. *HUGE smile*
I had little spies planted and got photo's text'd to me all night long! Aside from many of him dancing, these came through! He came home and told me he danced with all the pretty girls!! Lucky guy...he did not lie!
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| He is in a daze, and this is just the beginning! |
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| Another beautiful young lady with my young man! |
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| And Another? Dancing his heart out! |
His first words to me were . . . "I sweat so much I had to drink eight bottles of water Mom!"
He danced his heart out.
The next week we reported to Cache Valley Specialty Hospital for Surgery. As I mentioned previously we delayed his surgery so Kenneth could go to prom. I will never regret that. Ever.
And neither will Kenneth.
When they put the IV in Kenneth everyone was crying; there was no room in the pre-op room; mom and dad were there, Aunt Alycia was there, Mom Mel was there, the thoughts and prayers of all of you were there (I could feel them, thank you so much) his doctors were there and in just a couple of minutes he had charmed all the nurses around him. The doctors had told us that it was very possible that he would experience a severe bleed out and if that happened they would halt the surgery and try again later. Apparently this happens a lot-and they do not take chances. At all.
We waited, and waited, and waited... almost seven hours later the doctor came out and said the surgery had gone better than they had ever thought it could have gone. NO hitches, and instead of the expected 50% correction, they achieved a near 100% correction. More tears. Lots more tears.
Kenneth went into the recovery room and we waited. He came to and just looked at us and then fell back to sleep. They wheeled him into a room with a couch and rocking chairs and tables and other chairs; they were setting us up for a long stay! When Kenneth woke up again, they asked him if he was in pain and he said NO! We all looked at each other thinking "is this kid for real?" He was. He was in the hospital for almost six days and only one time when they asked him if he was hurting, did he say yes. Just once.  |
| Just ONE group of visitors that came to see Kenneth! Lucky guy! |
Cache Valley Specialty Hospital is a small, semi-private hospital and it was a quiet holiday weekend when Kenneth had his surgery. Kenneth is a joy and always has a surprise for us. The day before he was released to go home he decided to let us know he hurt! The nurses removed the bandages (I won't post pictures Jenny Poo, don't worry!) and as they gently ripped off the tape that covered the long row of stitches my little boy who had been so quiet and calm SCREAMED out F&#K!!! for the world to hear. "That HURTS!" he told the nurses. Stop pulling that off!
I am used to swear words popping out of his mouth at inopportune times as is anyone that has known Kenneth for the past seventeen years. Come to think of it, I am glad he only dropped one; they often come out in multiples. However I think the nurses were about to pass out. One of them turned about ten shades of red, the other just let her jaw drop and stared at him. So, it didn't hurt to have the steel rods and screws put in, the incisions made and sewn up, but it hurt to have the band aid taken off? WTH??? OK, Kenneth.. I only wish I felt pain like you do!
He has been in a brace for the last two and a half months, but he is swimming and starting to get back to normal. He should be able to take it off in about two weeks. But....
The best part of all was a bit of news that the doctor did not tell us in advance. When they perform the surgery they attempt graph bone from different parts of the body to the spine. If this is successful then the bone will fuse to itself and regenerate-literally growing a healthy new STRAIGHT spine around the rod and screws that they put in. Dr. Felix told us that in about two years Kenneth will be able to have all the hardware taken out because of the success of the surgery and bone regeneration!
Thanks to those of you who have truly supported our family during this time.
We have appreciated it more than you know. XO
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| Uncle Kenneth having a picnic with Rocco! Happy Day! |
You are very welcome. We are lucky to have such wonderful care available for our son! :)
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