A Long Road for a Little Girl...

On June 7th, Sienna had her ureters re-implanted into her bladder.  She was such a doll before the surgery.  And for not having anything to eat or milk to drink for 15 hours (because she had to fast before surgery) she was in such good spirits.  She looked darling in her tiny hospital scrubs.  Surgeons were about an hour behind, so we went for a walk outside on the patio overlooking Salt Lake City.  Little did we know - we would be seeing this view for two more weeks during some extended hospital stays.

*Sienna BEFORE her surgery*

Dr. Cartwright spoke to us before the surgery.  He was great.  The anesthesiologist had us sign lots of paperwork, and they were ready to wheel our baby away.  I was sad.  Clearly, she was in the best hands in a six-state region...but thinking of the pain she was about to experience, made me crumble.  We kissed her on the forehead, as the anesthesiologist took her away.  I started to cry once the operating doors clamped shut.  Now it was just time to wait.  After an hour and 1/2 in surgery, the OR Nurse called us from the Operating Room.  Sienna's vitals were good.  The next hour and 1/2 went by so slowly. 

After what seemed to be such a long wait, Dr. Cartwright came to speak to us.  Both ureters were re-implanted!  The left one (which is really two because it's duplicated) re-implanted smoothly.  The right one posed some difficulties for doctors.  They had a hard time getting it situated.  It took longer than they expected.  And that partly explains her extremely painful recovery. 

Only one parent can go to be with infants/toddlers in Surgery Recovery.  I had told Jody - it was going to be me.  But when they came to get one of us...Jody got up and went with the nurse.  I didn't want to say, "Hey...I thought I was going!!"  in front of the entire waiting room {mini tantrum}....so he went...and I waited some more.  I wanted to see her so badly.  When they finally told me I could go see her....I ran down the hall.  The Post-Op nurses told Jody she wouldn't let the blond nurse hold her...only the brunette.  Sounds like she wanted me as much as I wanted to be with her.

It took Sienna awhile to come out of the anesthesia.  Once she did, she had a difficult night.  She threw up repeatedly and wouldn't drink anything.  The nurses were so helpful in changing sheets, washing her favorite blanket and cleaning us both up.  Sienna just wanted to be held.  So we exchanged the crib for a bed, and I slept by her. 

She made progress, but two days later when we were discharged - she still had a low-grade fever and she wouldn't drink on her own.  I was nervous leaving, because she still seemed so sick.  Doctors say little ones tend to bounce back more quickly once they go home...Sienna didn't. 

We came home on a Saturday - by Tuesday, I was so worried.  I knew something was terribly wrong.   I took her to American Fork Hospital where they drew blood and took a chest X-Ray.  Within 15 minutes, Primary Children's had the lab results.  They called me and told me to bring Sienna to the Emergency Room immediately or they would send an ambulance.  I hopped in the car right away and drove, with my mind racing.  What was wrong with her?  What could they see in her tests?  They were waiting for us once we arrived at the ER - but they didn't have any definite answers.  Doctors did a number of tests.  Her blood work was completely abnormal, and she was running at temp above 104 with Motrin.  When technicians did an ultrasound on Sienna's tummy - they got their answer.

The technician gasped.  (Never a good sign.)  There were dark spots all throughout her lower abdomen. 

"What are those?"  I asked.
"That's floating urine," he replied.
"Where is her bladder?!"  I asked. 

It was hardly recognizable in the ultrasound.  It had ruptured, and was flat as a pancake. 

He pointed out the deflated organ.  Doctors had made a very large incision in her bladder during the surgery - days after, her bladder sprouted a leak - causing urine to seep out and eventually absorb into her bowels.  As you can imagine - that makes a person VERY sick.  Her tummy was very swollen, which is fairly normal after surgery...but a large amount of liquid was pouring out of her stomach where the stent came out.  Jody and I had asked the doctors about that.  They weren't too concerned at the time.  Now we know it was another indication that her bladder had ripped.   In addition to the tear, a respiratory culture showed Sienna also had  Para-Influenza-3 and Rhinovirius.  She was back in the hospital from June 12th to June 18th. 

Watching the Sunset with Daddy

Halfway through that hospital stay - Sienna hadn't eaten for 10 days!  I set up a meeting with a nutritionist.  We discussed a feeding tube.  I wanted her to have enough energy so her body could get better.  Urologists made the final decision on that one...and they said no.  I was frustrated, and I felt helpless.  By this time, Sienna had lost her hunger cues.  She survived on saline/potassium/sugar water through an IV for more than a week. 

We constantly ordered food for Sienna and offered it to her.  The hospital stay became more about the little successes.  The first time she didn't push the plate away...my heart was pounding.  "Come on Sienna - you can do this!"  She ate one green bean and three tiny carrot wedges.  I was ecstatic.  I ran out into the hospital hall doing high kicks and kung-fu moves.  I was so excited to tell the nurses they had something positive to chart. 

The days became long.   It was the same four hospital walls, and so much waiting.  Waiting for that 15 minutes in a 24 hour day when the doctor made the rounds to Sienna's room.  I didn't want to leave the room ever - in case you missed the visit.  I slept over with Sienna - all but one night.  Jody was there a lot too.  He missed days of work.

The bladder is a very strong muscle, and it holds the ability to repair itself.  After days of having a catheter, doctors felt encouraged that the leak was no longer a problem.  She was making progress again.  Sienna came home weak, but showing signs of improvement.  She had the catheter at home, and Gracie loved to carry around the urine bag for her little sis.  What a pal!  Sienna had the catheter in for 11 days.

By the 2nd hospital stay, Sienna's veins started collapsing.  Her IV would not last more than 2 days.  She had to keep getting poked.  My heart was breaking for her, because she didn't understand why she needed the IV or why she felt so miserable.  She had multiple IV's in her ankle, wrist and arm.     It took her days to regain her balance.  Even once she was at home recovering, she couldn't stand or walk by herself.  

(Now, when I catch her dumping cereal on the kitchen floor or emptying my makeup drawer...I smile a little bigger.  I am so happy she is feeling better after everything she experienced!)