Jackson's back surgery

These next few blogs are out of order because I cut and pasted from our family blog. `

So we had our appointment with Jackson's neurosurgeon today. He said that Jackson does have a tethered spinal cord, however it's not severe. That does not mean that he doesn't need surgery. Jackson will need surgery within the next two or three months. He let us know that Jackson will be in surgery for two hours and then be in the hospital for two days after surgery. He'll have a two to three inch scar on his back. I'm so relieved to finally know what's going on with him. We feel so blessed that it's not as bad as it could be and that our crazy pedi (who turns out is a genius) found it so early. Jackson will gain all his bladder control and bowel control back pretty quickly and will not have to worry about this happening again or losing control and function of his legs.

His doctor said that the fluid in his spine would more than likely go away or stay the same once he has surgery so it should NOT be a problem.

We will still need to see a urologist about his kidney being abnormal in shape and size but I'm not too worried about that. (He has two and only needs one, right?)

For those of you who don't know, he will probably need some cosmetic surgery in the next few years on his head and face and has a deveated septum which will probably need surgery also (i don't know when)

Next week Jackson will have two root canals done. I'm beginning to think that his pedi was right and that Jackson's LITTLE body just didn't form all the way in my belly.

Thank you for all your fasting and prayers. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.

Today is Jackson's Pre-op. I'm going to meet with his surgeon and see if Jackson's still on for tomorrow's surgery. I'm a little concerned, because he had a sinus infection that we're not sure is gone or not. He's been through two rounds of anti-biotics, but his pedi can't tell if it's gone or not. The only way we knew he had one is because it showed up on his MRI. I'll see what the doctor says.

The doctor said everything went well. He fixed the problem with his spinal cord and he should be back to normal in a week. Just no trampoline for four weeks:( That will be hard to enforce.

Makayla and Isaac went to visit Jackson last night and Bella and Jessica came and visited yesterday during the day.

Jackson had to lay flat for 24 hours. That was the most difficult part of the after surgery experience. He was so mad at me mostly for making him lay flat. He took a few good swipes and kicks at me. Of course mom gets all the anger and all the loves.

I'll let Jeremy blog everything. He does such a great job at telling the stories of our family. He's able to add detail and interest where I'm just trying to spell everything correctly and use as few words as possible.

O.K.

Jeremy mentioned that I should go ahead and write a little about my experiences at the hospital.

Jeremy and I were both able to be at the hospital when Jackson went into surgery and when he came out. We weren't sure we'd both be there until they moved his surgery back a few hours. (Isaac also got a fever the night before, Jessica watched him for us because we couldn't send him to school and we both really wanted to be there. I felt really bad leaving Jessica with our sick kid, but it really meant a lot to us) I was so glad to have Jeremy there. While Jackson was coming out of anesthesia, he totally freaked out. Well he was doing fine- until he saw me and then he went crazy. It was really scary because they wouldn't let him be held, sit up or anything. So comforting him was a lot harder than his other surgeries. After Jeremy and I held him down and the nurses pumped him full of meds, I layed down with him and half-held him as much as I could. The next few hours were hard because he wanted to be held and we couldn't. He kept trying to rip his IV's and cords out. He also kept yelling to go home and yelling at everyone not to touch him.

Jeremy went home to get the kids to bed and see them off to school the next morning while I stayed the night with Jackson. I was so afraid for Jeremy to leave me alone. I layed in bed with him most of the night to keep him laying down and stop him from ripping anything out. It was a long hard night, but the next morning everything got a lot easier. Jeremy brought up a Kilan movie (the only t.v. he'll watch) and Bella (his very best friend) came to visit, both really helped raise his little spirits. He kind of had a big attitude so it was nice to have my cute sweet Jackson back.

His most favorite thing at the hospital was the playroom. He loves bowling. He loves bowling with my kitchen cups, on my cell phone, and at the bowling alley. The playroom had a Wii and of course our little bowling protege loved bowling on the Wii. It's all he wanted to do there. When it came time to go home, he didn't want to leave the Wii or the wheel chair. He really wanted to take them both home with us:)

Jeremy spent the last night with Jackson and I stayed at home with the older kids. When I was leaving to pick the kids up from school the nurses had him standing up and taking steps. I was so sad to leave and miss all that.

Now we're home and he's a little timid to do anything. He keeps wanting to do things but is afraid to stand and walk. I don't know what we'll do for the next 6 days. I'm scared to let him do anything also.




See the Popsicle I'm enjoying in recovery? They kept trying to give Jackson Popsicles in recovery while he was totally out of control. There wasn't anywhere to put it so I got to enjoy a Popsicle while trying to hold him down real good. I just thought it was funny, when they kept trying to give it to him and he was so ticked off.