Preparing for Bone Grafting

Last year Ella's Cleft/Pediatric dentist found Ella was getting close to ready for a bone graft.  We talked about it as a family and I thought I had her prepared for what it meant.  Yesterday was had a follow up with Dr. Cermain and she gave the go ahead for us to meet with Dr Woods for setting the surgery.  I was able to get an appointment today with Dr Wood which worked out great since the girls are on Spring Break.  I was happy not to have to take them out of school.  Their school and the doctor's office are pretty far apart.  Elizabeth decided she would be bored at today's meeting so we dropped her off at Daycare and Elizabeth got to play with the babies at Beth's.  Ella and I had time to kill so we drove around a bit downtown before going to Gillette.  We got in right away, even a little early, but Dr Wood was busy with a surgery consultation. 

I was thinking of my questions while we waited and Ella played with her dolls.

I thought I had it figured out what Ella was worried about most but I was wrong. 

Yesterday she mentioned she was glad the surgery is going to be in the summer because then the kids at school won't be able to call her names.  I asked if they had, nope but it is a worry for her.  So, its a good thing she won't have to worry about that. I thought that was her biggest worry. 

Dr Wood came in about 20 minutes late due to the consult and talked right to Ella.  He explained they will take the bone from her hip.  Ella asked which one, he said the right one.  Ok.  Then he said the stitches in her mouth will be on the gum but the ones for the hip will be under the skin.  He told her the hip would be a little painful but not the mouth.  So Ella plopped on floor and asked if she could still do this move and proceeded to lay on the floor and touched her feet to her hands behind her back.  Dr Wood said yes, but at first it may hurt.  We also talked about two weeks of liquid food and one week of smooth food before she can be on regular food again.  Ella had lots of questions about that. (We are going to try out some smoothies and protein shakes now to find ones Ella likes)  But, the one that got me was when she had a tear in her eye and asked why she had to have a bone sticking in her mouth and how would it not fall out.  That is when I knew I hadn't explained the procedure well enough.  Sorry Ella.  I'll be looking up pictures for you but we also talked in the doctors office and explained that the bone will be put under your gums not outside it.  I hope you understand better now.

Dr Wood and his staff were very nice to Ella and answered all her questions.  At the end Dr Wood asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up.  She told him she hadn't decided yet.  Dr Wood suggested she may want to think about being a lawyer.  ;-)

And his nurse today was a Gymnastics Mom.  Here daughter and Elizabeth are in the same team at Gymnastics.  So she told Ella if she had any more questions, that she would be happy to answer them at the gym. 

We don't have the surgery scheduled yet but it will be this summer.

On the way back to Beth's Ella discussed her recent nightmare.  But, she didn't want to tell me about it and instead told her dolls.  But, I had strict instructions to respect her privacy and not listen to the discussion. :-)

I am so proud of you Ella.  You had questions and asked them and didn't let go until you had it answered.  I wish things didn't worry you so but we are working on that.  Like I said the other day, think of one of the biggest worries you had from the past and figure out if what you worried about really happened.  If things ended up ok, then maybe its ok to not be so very worried.  Either way, keep asking your questions and please let me know your fears and we will work through them together.

Love You !