6 Months Post Surgery

Today Ella had her follow up appointment with the Cleft Pediatric Dental team.  They are wonderful women that come in to Gillette Hospital two days a week to work with kids.  Both Ella and I have loved them from day one.  They have had Ella's best interest in mind from the get go.  Today was no different but Ella may be reaching the point where she has had enough.   It was an emotional appointment.  

The bone graft area looks great.  It is building new bone and the xray showed there is tooth ready to come down in the right spot.  That will continue to allow the new bone to grow and support the new tooth.  That was AWESOME news.   I was prepared to hear there wasn't an adult tooth and that an implant would be needed in the future.  This was the best news because as the tooth comes in, it will keep the new bone healthy and there is less chance of having to redo the bone graft.  Thank you Jesus!

Then Dr. Cermain broke the news to Ella that she will need to use the night mask procedure again to bring her upper jaw forward.  Her jaw has pretty much moved back to where it was a few years ago so we need to redo it.  Ella started sobbing.  She doesn't want to go through all that again.  It means putting goop in her mouth so they can fit the retainer to her mouth.  This time it won't be an expander (we called it a butterfly) glued to her upper mouth but the metal rings around two of her teeth so that the night mask can attach via binders.

The last time we were at the night mask stage, Ella did wonderful so I was a bit surprised by her sadness.  She said she won't be able to toss and turn so she won't sleep well.   She also said with the retainer she won't be able to eat corn on the cob.  My little worrier got so worked up she decided she isn't going to sleep or eat while she has to do the night mask.  We all talked with her and explained it will help her to have her jaw moved forward but she was not pacified.  So I let it go and told her it was her body so she can decide if she is going to sleep or eat.  I am hopeful she will handle the actual process fine as she is the toughest kid I know.

Even with all her tears and sadness Ella let them take more xrays and pictures of the inside of her mouth without complaint or wiggle.  Just thinking of her strength I could cry.  I am so proud of my daughter and I know she will get through this next hurdle.  The downside is if we don't do the night mask with our best she will need to have surgery later.  This would be a rougher surgery than she has ever had - with 6 weeks no solid food.  Dr Cermain let her know that was the other option.  So we explained how we will go slow and just do it a little bit more each night until Ella is totally comfortable.  Time will tell if she believed me.  I am also going to talk to her doctor about how to help Ella relax at night to sleep if it does turn out that she has sleeping problems.  But, I really don't expect that to be an issue.

We will go back in about 6 weeks to do the goop and retainer part.  I told Ella that after she is done with that, I think it would be ok if we stopped and bought her new earrings.   She got her ears pierced on Sunday so that might be a helpful bribe.

I really wish I could trade places but this is what Ella needs to finish up all the stuff with her cleft.  I will be praying to Jesus that he helps Ella with her worries and will let Ella know again and again that she will be ok and that everyone is proud of her.

As we were leaving Dr. Cermain told me I am good with Ella - that was nice but I did what moms do.  I told Dr Cermain that her whole team is great with Ella.  Then Dr. Cermain said that Ella and I were a good fit.  We think so too!

I love you Ella Bella and I hope and pray the worries don't get too hard to handle.  Just pray to Jesus, Grandpa and Grandma Grace and they will continue to help you.  I am so glad you are my daughter Ella - I can't imagine not being your mom.  Like I told you, you and Elizabeth are the best kids in the world.