Jamie’s Surgery: Day 3

(still mostly asleep, but from habit grabbed his bottle from us and enjoyed first milk)

Promised full update: Today was pretty tiring – to be sure. I’ve dotted two little cellphone updates during the day, so part of the news has been spilt, but the essence is that he’s doing well. Our concerns proved to be sound in that – knowing this little character – we were doubtful that the sedatives would be as effective as usual. In the aftermath of this evening’s could-only-have-been-painful wrestling match with Jan and two nurses (during which, under the ‘heavy sedation’ and restraints, he decided his nasal tubes had to go…), we’re left a little concerned that his never-say-die approach to life is going to be to his detriment as he recovers from what is obviously quite major surgery. His Cardiologist suggests that children self-regulate their movements based on the pain, but our experience shows that J has a fairly unusual pain-threshold. We’ll have to wait and see.

Other than that – something which may be of interest which I meant to pop into last-nights update is the following: Jamie’s pre-op Sp02 (which in layman’s terms is a measure of the oxygenation of the blood) was somewhere around low 80%’s. From the little reading I’ve done, that’s generally considered quite low, and usually requiring additional oxygen. Obviously he’s been used to this all his life, so he’s been fine, and anyone can attribute he’s certainly not been short of energy. His post-op Sp02 was 97%, and had climbed to 100% by the evening. I asked whether that was as a result of the operation, or the fact that he was on additional oxygen as part of his ventilation mixture, and was assured that since he was receiving very little additional oxygen, the marked increase in saturation was directly because of the closed atrial hole and the consequent correction of old blood mixing (diluting) the new blood. Quite incredible! Of course, reading between the lines, we’re pipping ourselves thinking of him having any MORE energy/stamina/musclepower – something we’ve been told will be the case. Jamie, more active? Eish!

OK. Enough speculation. More facts. Jan and I escaped the confines of the hospital early afternoon and wandered around town – again visiting the Gardens, Longmarket square (where we were acosted as tourists and fell unwittingly into their retail traps! Hehe…) and some curiosity shops. We had some snacks sitting in the Gardens under the watchful eye of the Cable Station, and returned to find our little chap awake for the first time. He had his first milk feed, squirmed around in protest at his immobility, and then fell asleep again. For the sake of continuity, the Quick cellphone update! fits here.

We left again to have supper at the V&A. Nothing culinary to write home about, but sitting at Quay 4 with the gulls and calm autumn evening descending around us reminded us again of the awesome city that we so easily take for granted.

(very woosey, but starting to pipe-up with his inflectioned ‘hmmm?’)

And then, yes. The Another cell update post fits here. After which we returned home, mostly comatose, and sunk into a deep sleep around 9am.