Marianne's surgery - a smattering of prayer requests

Some background and updates and prayer requests, in case some of you haven't heard what we have going down around here...

I mentioned in passing back in July that Marianne was diagnosed with fairly severe scoliosis and had surgery to look forward to in her future. At the time, we thought it would be a couple of years out. After consulting with a pediatric orthopedic specialist at Children's Hospital, however, the plan changed. Good thing I didn't get her in for that brace fitting any sooner - saved ourselves some money and effort with that bit of procrastination!

This coming Monday, Marianne will undergo posterior spinal fusion surgery. The majority of her spine will be fused as straight as possible (still not super straight... but the doctor said it would be a vast improvement) and rods will be screwed to the spine to hold it in place as it heals. The surgery itself is expected to last around seven hours. There are, of course, a whole slew of risks when someone's whole back is opened up, but the doctor's biggest concern is the risk of infection. Please pray that the surgery goes smoothly and successfully and that Marianne comes through the recovery free of infection and with strong motivation to get back on her feet quickly. 

The current expectation is that she will be in the hospital till Thursday or Friday, and then home but out of school recovering till at least her follow up appointment on 12/6. Please pray for all of us during this time - her, for her healing and for a positive, optimistic attitude; me, that I can assist her in the ways she needs to best heal, and encourage and serve her through this. It promises to be very different from my experiences in motherhood to date. Hopefully it's a bonding experience and not solely a battle. 

After her follow up, she'll most likely return to school part time for a while before returning full time. Given the holiday break shortly after her return to school, I hope things will go smoothly and by January she should be on her feet and fully back to school with the exception of PE and sports. Oh, and band. She resigned from the trombone a few weeks ago, at least for the remainder of the year, because playing an instrument so heavy is off her options for several months. She was surprisingly bummed about it, given how much she complained about playing the thing every day since she first started in 5th grade. She also suddenly is disappointed that she's unable to try out Jr High basketball this winter. Nevermind when I suggested back in the summer that she might want to give basketball a shot, she scoffed at the idea. The grass is always greener, isn't it?

A few other surgery notes:

- SEVEN HOURS. We check in at 5:30am, and the surgery begins around 7:30, although the doctor said most likely the first incision wouldn't happen till 8 or 8:30 because of all the prep. That is going to be a loooooonnnnnnng day, folks. I think it's the part I'm dreading most for myself, because the waiting and wondering what's going on with my (teenage) baby, and just the WAITING. I don't like waiting. Say some prayers for our peace of mind while you're praying for Marianne's successful surgery. Thankfully, Nathaniel was able to take the day off to sit and wait with me, and my dear friend is planning to stop in for a visit, and my mom will be at my house holding down the fort so I don't have to give a second thought to that. Still, it's going to be long.

- The rods will be left in permanently, barring unforeseen complications. I had always assumed the rods were in permanently because they continue to be needed to support the spine, but I've learned that within the first year the spine has fully fused and supports itself, so the rods become superfluous. The surgery to remove them would be so invasive, however, and require all this recovery time again, so the doctors prefer to leave them in place unless complications arise.

- She'll come home on meds more impressive than any I've ever been prescribed. Please pray that we can manage her pain well, and that she'll be able to wean off the heavy drugs within a few weeks and continue to manage her pain with milder options. I have read a handful of horrible stories about chronic nerve pain after this type of surgery, but have been comforted by many counter-stories and by the surgeon we're working with. Still, I'm anxious. She is not currently in any major discomfort from her scoliosis, but two excellent orthopedic surgeons and a couple other medical professionals have all agreed that given the speed of development of her scoliosis and the specific way the curves are developing, THIS is the right time to move forward with surgery. The idea that I'm putting Marianne into significantly worse pain, even knowing it's for her future benefit, has weighed heavily on me. So, say a little prayer for Nathaniel and me as well. This is really no fun.

- Her surgeon said that she'll have full use of her arms and legs and therefore may have an "easier recovery than someone who'd broken his leg or arm unexpectedly". That seems overly simplified to me, but gave me great comfort, anyway. She'll need help getting up out of a chair for a while, he said, but once up will be able to walk and do stairs. She will not bend in the same way, but can look forward, I guess, to good overall flexibility? I say that with some skepticism only because I can't envision it. How does one bend over and tie her shoes when her spine can't curve? He tells us she'll learn to accommodate the stiffness. It's a bit of a mystery. For the past month, every time I think, "My back is stiff" and give a little bend-shrug-twist-stretch to ease it, I have the follow up thought, "Wait! Will she never be able to execute any of those moves?!" I'm curious to see how this all plays out.

- On a slightly humorous note, and one that surprised me, the doctor said one of the trickiest bits - and part of the reason it takes so long to make the first incision - is getting the incision straight. Because if he cuts a straight incision, then does all this work to her spine, when he goes to stitch her back up the incision will be crazy and curvy. He has to try to estimate how his spinal adjustments will affect akin around the incision, and cut accordingly, in the hopes that as he's stitching at the end, it's straight. Because while right now, today, I might not think I care much about that, he knows that down the road, Marianne will prefer the straightest, least noticeable incision possible. I'm glad I have other people to think about these things, because it never would have crossed my mind.

Thank you to everyone who's been praying since we first started investigating Marianne's scoliosis back in the spring! Your prayers have been a great comfort and I know we - she especially - has been lifted up and allowed to float through this on your prayers with significantly less anxiety and drama than I'd anticipated. Thank you, also, for all the generous friends and family who've sent care packages, or made plans to do so while she's in the hospital and after, to help keep her spirits high. I am forever in awe of the beauty of the community we live in and the family we are blessed with!

Deep breath. Here we go...