Surgery Day Timeline

We thought we would do the post a little different today.  Since we are getting updates on a regular basis we are going to share those updates.  Of course we won't post them all until Tristan is out of surgery, but at least you can see how the day went.

Wednesday, October 20th 2010.
4:30am - Alarm goes off.  I (Adam) am the only one out of bed and was able to shower and use deodorant.
5:01am - Becky gets up.
5:25am - Kids wake up and get dressed.

5:25am - Out the door at the Ronald McDonald House and into a taxi.
5:40am - Arrive at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

5:45am - Arrive at Surgery Reception.
6:10am - Becky and Tristan go back to prepare for surgery.
6:15am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:20am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:25am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:30am - Addison and Iwait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:35am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:40am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:45am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:50am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
6:55am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
7:00am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
7:05am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
7:10am - Addison and I wait to see Tristan before surgery.
7:15am - Nurse finally comes to get Addison and I. She breaks some rules, but understands that this is a major surgery and that Addison needs to see her baby brother before he is taken to surgery.  (Whew, it took about eight times typing that before I realized that I should copy and paste.)
7:20am - Tristan gets "giggle juice".

7:35am - Tristan is wheeled away to surgery.

7:36am - Addison, Becky and I are escorted to the surgical waiting area.  Adam takes "giggle juice" (kidding, I was seeing if you were still reading or not.)
8:30am - First update from operating room:  Tristan is asleep and the breathing tube is in place, surgical team are still trying to get his body comfortable, taking into account his contractures. 
10:00am - Second update from the operating room:  Tristan is doing great; procedure started at 9:25am and they are surgically getting to where they need to install the VEPTR.
10:15am - "Missy", Becky's sorority sister arrives to help us during this waiting period. 
10:25am - Addison and Adam walked two blocks to the train station to pick up Aunt Debbie.
10:40am - Third update from the operating room.  The VEPTR has been installed and they are starting to close.
11:15am - Becky and I (Adam) meet with Dr. Flynn.  The surgery has gone faster than expected; and things went beautifully. The only real concern is for the hook that went into one of the lower vertebrae...Tristan didn't have enough skin to cover it completely. They had to use some of his muscle to cover and there is a risk of infection or skin break-down.  Good news: A longer VEPTR was used, which will mean the next major surgery will be pushed out further.
11:50am - Tristan is completely out of surgery and is moved to the PICU,  We are moved to a new floor and are waiting to see Tristan for the first time.
12:20pm - We (Becky and I) are able to hold Tristan's hand and comfort him.  He looks great.  A lot better than what we expected.  The pictures below show minimal swelling. Once he wakes up, the PICU team will start the pain management portion of his recovery.  Tristan is coming in and out and giving little bursts of cries, which is really tough to watch.

2:50pm - Dr. Flynn comes in to check-in and talk about curvature changes.  If you remember during our pre-op appointment, Dr. Flynn said that Tristan's spine was at 91 degrees (a ten-degree change for the worse since our July visit.)  Dr. Flynn hoped through surgery to at least stop the progression and at best get Tristan to 75 degrees.  (Enter GOD, The Great Physician) Post-op curve: 53 degrees!!!! (Tristan is coming home taller and will have much more room for proper organ growth.)

Today has been incredible and we thank you all for standing in prayer and support with us.  This journey is far from over as the recovery is tough.  We hope Tristan will be leaving the PICU in the morning and we'll update again tomorrow. 

God Bless You All!
Adam, Rebecca, Addison and Tristan