Epigastric Hernia

This all started at a Dr. appointment which Kayla had for a upper respiratory infection (completely non related). We saw a different pediatrician than we normally due, because she was booked. During the visit the Dr. noticed a small bump in the middle of Kayla's abdomen. He poked around at it and said something to point of I'm not really concerned with it, it disappears when you push on it. I was non the wiser and thought nothing of it.

However when Kayla went in for her routine 1 year check up I remembered it and brought it up to our pediatrician. That is when I first heard the word "hernia". Which I knew nothing about. She said she thought it was a hernia and that she would like to refer us to a pediatrics surgeon so it could be fully diagnosed. 

After the appointment I do what I usually do when I'm clueless about something, I went to the internet. I scoured the web, reading up on all things "hernia". It prepared me somewhat for the surgical appointment. 

These were taken the day before her surgery, if you look close you can see the bump a few inches above her belly button.

On June 27th we met with Dr. Buchi (as they call him) and he matter of factually told me "yep she has a epigastric hernia." He continued to explain that it is a opening in the abdominal wall that is letting things through. His guess was that her's was only allowing fat through. He explained that there are three types of hernia's. Umbilical which is very common, groin which is also fairly common and then the least common of them all is epigastric. He then told me it was their policy that all epigastric hernia's would require surgery now rather than later. With this type of hernia what happens is the fat (or intestines or organs) get strangulated when the hole in the wall begins to grow tighter. Which causes great pain and if anything but fat is poking through could cause major health concerns.

whoa! wait a minute did he say surgery? My baby is... well... a baby! 

I kept myself calm and listened as he described what they would do in surgery. He told me the anesthesiologist would put her under general anesthesia by gas and that she would have an I.V and incubate her. Then they would make a small incision over the lump and go in and shave off the fat then stitch the muscle wall together then use the glue and butterfly tape to bind up the skin. And that it would be an outpatient surgery. We would come in, in the morning and leave by the afternoon. 

My heart stopped at "incubate her". I felt numb. They were going to make my baby girl stop breathing shove a tub down her throat and make a machine breath for her??!!?!?! This brought vivid flash backs of my grandmothers death, which was fuel to my fire of fear. 

I held my self together until the nurse came back in after the Dr. had left, then... well then I lost it. I hate crying in front of people especially strangers. The nurse was compassionate and after I sucked up the last of my sniffles I finished listening to what we did from here.

We were to call in and set up the surgery, if it wasn't going to be done within the next 30 days we would need to see Kayla's pediatrician a week before for a pre-opp physical. 

I talked things over with Josh and we did a lot of praying. Josh felt confident that the doctors knew what they were saying and doing. We scheduled the surgery for July 31st. 

As I prayed I asked the Lord to show me if doing the surgery was not His will. I asked for His peace to be upon me. I asked that her health not be put in jeopardy and that this not be a new trial I was to endure. I'm not going to lie all of this was hard for me. But I did my best to keep my hope in Him alone. 

What do you think of my styling dress?

So many toys to choose from!

We arrived at the hospital at 6:45am and they took her back to surgery around 8:05am. We were told it would take about an hour for the surgery and as soon as she was out Dr. Buchi would come speak with us. Then we would have to wait for her to wake up from the anesthesia before we could go back to recovery to see her.

On the morning of the surgery the Lord answered prayers right away. I was concerned about how Kayla would do with not being able to eat until after her surgery. She is a hungry hungry hippo in the morning and I worried she would not understand what was going on and why she could not eat.

Such beautiful blue eyes!

Nope not at all! She did ask a couple times to eat but the staff at the hospital was great at showing us around the super fun pediatric area and we kept her busy playing and riding in the little car, while getting prepped and waiting. We played with the tiny gas masks they have for babies to get Kayla used to it in hopes she would not be scared when they put it on her. 

The hardest part by far was when I had to hand her over to the nurse, (which she willing went to) another prayer answered. But although she did fine with that part I did not. After she was out of my arms and down the hall is when the flood gates opened and I cried on my husbands shoulder. 

I have a horrible feeling that she did some major crying as well because she broke all the little capillary veins around her eyes, cheeks and down her neck. It rips my heart a part to think of how scared she must have been when she realized she was no longer near mommy and complete strangers were laying her down putting a mask on her face. UUGGHH! Even writing this makes me tear up. 

By 8:45am our buzzer was going off telling us they were ready to take us back to see her. Josh said he's never seen me move so fast. We were put in her recovery room where we waited until she was fully awake and brought to my waiting arms. Oh that felt so good.

She looked fine! Like nothing had happened except being woken up too early from a nap . They did warn us that they can be a bit cranky when they wake up due to not knowing what's going on and why they feel so weird from the anesthesia. Boy they were right on. That was one cranky little girl, until they let her eat! Then she was a happy camper. Juice, apple sauce and crackers saved the day!

We got home after picking up her vicodin prescription by noon I believe. 

And she hasn't acted like anything happened! Seriously you would think she went to the zoo for the day rather than the hospital! 

Praise the Lord!!!! He always takes care of us and we are so thankful.

Kayla is healing well as far as I can tell. She has a post surgery appointment on the 13th. Which at that point I hope to put all of this hernia stuff behind us.