Pink and Pulsing

Catch your attention? Pink and Pulsing describes the surgery site and this is good. So yesterday we were meeting with the doctors at around 5:30 am, getting a chance to ask questions about what would happen. Samantha hesitated a bit but then let her question loose. For the past month we have been talking about doing this 'free flap' down around her ankle. She was concerned that flap meant the skin would actually be flapping around...

We all had a good laugh and it reminded us how kids hear and understand things. Dr. Heare explained that it was called a flap because originally they would cut part of a muscle and flap it over to repair a damaged area. Hers is called a 'free flap' because now they can actually cut the muscle out completely and put it anywhere it is needed. He explained that this flap would be completely attached down by her ankle. Dr. Ozer took the muscle from the inside of her left thigh, then he attached all the important blood vessels to the muscle and covered it all with a skin graft.

Originally we were told that this surgery would be about 5 hours, but all in all it ran about 8. A very long day but also very successful. During the original limb salvage surgery she lost the posterior artery (the one that runs down behind and to the inside of the leg) because it ran right thru the original tumor. But the body is amazing and it started to re-grow and branch out. It was not at big as the other artery (the one that runs on top of the leg) but it was big enough to support the flap. This in itself was great news. It improves the success rate of the operation dramatically.

After the surgery Samantha was taken into intensive care. The reason for this is that the flap needs to be monitored very carefully for 72 hours. The first 24 hours are the most important. She has this huge dressing on her leg - from hip to toe. But they cut a tunnel down to the flap - if you look down you see this pink tender skin with a kind of mesh on top. Then the nurses have an ultrasound machine they lower onto the exposed site to listen for the pulsing of the blood. Both the pink and the pulsing are very important. Everything they are doing now is to encourage good blood flow all the way down to her toes. She is on an epidural because that medicine tends to enlarge the arteries, her foot has what they call a bear hug blanket - blowing warm air constantly on the leg. They also are really trying to keep Samantha's pain level low, because when you are in pain the arteries constrict. For the most part - Samantha has been sleeping. I think this is a good thing - she is relaxed and comfortable.

We made it thru the first 24 hours so the chance of survival (of the flap) jumped higher. All the doctors will relax a bit once we hit the 72 hour mark. I am thinking we will probably be in the hospital about a week - it all really depends on Sam and her flap... That sounded kind of funny.

We have had a couple of our favorite nurses stop by to check on her - all asking when she will get to move to the 7th floor. I also noticed a girl from Sam's cancer teen group here in intensive care. I believe she had a stroke and is battling an infection - this was a side effect of the chemo she is on... I see her mom - both Daniel and Samantha know her. I hope that she comes thru this - it has been a really long battle for her.

Let's see - Daniel is doing ok - his attitude has taken a turn towards the mellow, maybe it is because we are taking a time out from each other - lol. Isabella received a gold sticker today for completing her 'teen' level of math beads. She is very proud of herself! She was a bit upset tonight because she could not come back to see Samantha and she misses her. So we ended up getting a gift (A teen magazine with the Jonas Brothers on the front) to give to Sam and some 'not hot' Cheetos for her. She left happy as a clam.

Tomorrow our dog Roxy is going into surgery too - she tore her ACL and after searching long and hard we found a clinic that will repair it for a reasonable price. We are all super excited for this because the alternative would have been to put her down. She is in too much pain.

As I nurse Sam back to feeling good here in the hospital - Jeremy will be nursing Roxy back to health at home. Never a dull moment in the Layer house...

I know that after this surgery, I will feel a bit better. With each successful procedure we are closer to getting Sam walking again and all this will be worth it.

Take care - send good vibes -

Love to everyone!!

PS - ending with a picture of Sam all dolled up this past Sunday.