Kaela Gets Through Surgery With Flying Colors!

Two days post op and Kaela is recovering well.  She was in a lot of pain right after the surgery and she still has trouble moving around but she is getting better every day.  We got her out of the bed yesterday and today to do a little physical therapy.  She has to work on strengthening her body after hanging for so long and not utilizing all of her muscles.  Even though it is really hard for her, she manages.  She is such a strong little girl. 

Kyphosis before the halo traction or rod implants

Kyphosis after insertion of VEPTR Rods

The change from the surgery is very dramatic.  Dr. M was able to bring Kaela's Kyphosis curve from roughly 110 degrees down to about 0.  The x-ray of her spine from the side pretty much looks like a typical person’s.  The scoliosis has also decreased dramatically.  There was a chance that Kaela would have to wear the halo with a vest even after the surgery but luckily she didn’t have to.  We were also counting on her wearing a protective vest for a while after the surgery.  Dr. M did such a great job that the vest was also not needed.

Kaela fresh out of surgery on May 22

Kaela's first time in a wheel chair post-op

As long as Kaela keeps progressing this way, we are scheduled to come home to Michigan on Friday June 1.  I know Sarah, Kaela and Wesley will be super excited to make it back to Michigan as they have been out here in Delaware since April 4^th of this year.  We can’t believe the time is almost here for Kaela to come home.  Her time here so far has been a complete success and we couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.  We have so many people to thank who have put time and resources forward to help out our family.  There are also numerous new friends that we have made during our stay here.  We are now counting the days until our family is back home in good old Dexter, MI.

Mother's Day @ Alfred I. Du Pont in Delaware

William and I are going back to Michigan tomorrow so we decided to celebrate Mother’s Day at the hospital.  I can’t think of a more deserving mother than Sarah after she has spent the last few weeks taking care of Kaela, an infant and working for 20 hours per week.  Wow!

A few days before, Kaela and I went down to the child life room where they were hosting a shopping center for Mother’s Day.  Kaela got to pick out four gifts to put in a bag for her mom.  Today William, Wesley and I ran out and got Sarah something she has been dreaming about for a while, a fancy new Nikon camera.  Kaela and William made cards for mom after we told her to leave the room for a while.  The kids were very excited to give Sarah her presents.  Happy Mother’s Day Mom!  We Love You!

Kaela's Friends Come For A Visit

Passing the time here at the hospital can be a challenge when all you have to do every day is a couple of PT appointments.  The rest of Kaela's time (and Sarah's) has been filled with TV watching or walks around the hospital, both of which get old real quick.  Over the past week or so though our family has been fortunate to have many special visitors.  On Tuesday Simon and Jude came from Maryland and spent some time playing with Playdoh in Kaela's room.  Then Mia and Samantha came to see Kaela later on.  The next day our friend's Kale and Grey came to visit and brought us dinner.  Most of these people our family was meeting for the very first time and we are so thankful that they took the time to stop by and say hey.  I know Kaela really enjoyed their visits too and it helped a lot to break up the week and make her days go a little faster.

Samantha, Kaela and Mia making bracelets in the Child Life Room

Kaela and William playing with Playdoh with Simon and Jude

Kaela and Grey hanging out (and William laying in Kaela's bed watching TV)

We would like to thank everyone that came out to visit Kaela and we hope to see you all again real soon!

Dad & William Surprise Kaela

Matt and William were not supposed to come back out to Delaware until the 19th of May but they had to come out a little earlier on the 6th of May instead.  We were going to tell Kaela about the visit but instead kept it a secret from her so that we could surprise her.  William and Matt left Michigan on Sunday the 6th and drove for 10 hours arriving at the Du Pont Children's hospital in Delaware at 1:15 am.  The next morning mom told Kaela that there was a surprise for her that day and that she would get to see it later.  Matt and William stayed at the Ronald McDonald house after they arrived and came up to the hospital the next morning.  Kaela was very, very surprised and happy to see her boys!

This pic is blurry because Matt and Kaela are jumping up and down

 

Kaela gives dad a hug

Wesley is happy to see his boys too

William was super happy to see his sister, brother and mom after not seeing them for a few weeks.  He kept telling me that he didn't miss them but you could see it in his face that he was really excited to see them again.