Joaquin's Surgery

Joaquin is really fortunate to be scheduled for his cleft palate surgery on Monday, January 5th. We got in on a cancellation, we are so grateful. The surgeon, Dr. Singhal at Children's Mercy in KC, is excellent - so much so that he books about a year and a half out. They didn't even schedule us for an initial surgery because of this, but told us they would do what they could to get us in sooner. We are jumping on the opportunity! The procedure will take about two hours, and will most likely happen in the afternoon. The difficult surgeries are scheduled in the a.m. and Joaquin's is considered an easy surgery, so we're assuming afternoon at this point. We won't know exactly when until the day before. We'll be at the hospital overnight on the 5th as they need to monitor him for at least 12 hours post-surgery. He'll then be on an all-liquid diet for a week (joy), and will also have to wear arm braces to keep him from sticking his fingers in his mouth while he heals (double joy). After the first week, he'll be limited to soft foods for another two weeks.

Dr. Singhal is a kind, gentle man - I've met with him twice and the last time he drew me a little diagram of the surgery. Basically he will make two incisions on either side of the palate. The soft palate (back of the mouth) naturally comes together to heal (will wonders never cease?), and with the hard palate (front of the mouth) he will insert a spongy substance to help the palate congeal. There will also be stitches that naturally fall out in the first couple of weeks.

After this surgery, there will be another surgery when Joaquin is about 7. They will take a bone graft from his hip to repair the hard palate right along his upper gum at the place where the cleft originated. Then about a year after that, we'll hopefully have the last surgery which will basically be cosmetic. Dr. Singhal will touch up his nose and the little polyp of skin under it leftover from the first surgery Joaquin had in China when he was a little older than one year old to repair the lip.

So there you have it. I sent an e-mail to my posse of friends in KC this week to let them know what's going on, and to ask for their help, especially that first week. I am so grateful for the support of friends there. Whoever reads this blog, no matter when you read it, send good thoughts, prayers, karma, whatever you believe in, that surgery will go smoothly for the little guy and that recovery goes well. His cold is much much better so I don't think that will get in the way of the surgery. I'm looking forward to having this milestone behind us!