Looking back (part 3): extreme makeover

The girls got hair cuts yesterday...and Leah's is now just slightly below her chin! We love her new look! Her mini-makeover reminded me of the 3rd part of her story I keep meaning to sit down and write. I don't know why, but I'm finding this one challenging, and have been procrastinating for about two weeks. Maybe it's because I've promised to write it, so it's more of an obligation than a choice. But more likely it's because, although one of the purposes of this blog is to help us journal and remember, some of this past summer's memories are difficult to re-live. Nevertheless, here are some snippets of what I remember... Week 2: after six days in the hospital, our first week at home...a bedside bell that went "ding-aling-aling" whenever Leah needed meds, ice packs, heating pad, water, or Mom...a schedule of meds that required interrupted sleep reminiscent of newborn baby days...visits from friends...short walks down the road...

Week 3: struggling through marching band camp, playing marimba for 1-3 hours on three of the five days...Friday's final performance and how pale she looked...many episodes of "Lost" as Leah distracted herself from her pain and discomfort...up days and down days...

Week 4: a day in Grand Rapids to visit our friends from Canada as well as Seth & Maddie...a small town baseball game (the South Bend Silverhawks) with our church group...our cousin Alecia's (and Ryan's) wedding--one of Leah's best days...our first reunion since surgery with much of our family again...thinking "maybe she's finally turned the corner!"

All dressed up for the wedding!

Week 5: Big slump...incision not healing and looking infected...first round of antibiotics causing severe headache, nausea and fatigue...plans to have Leah's wisdom teeth removed blocked by a very competent oral surgeon...thankfulness for his insight, and relief there wouldn't be suffering on top of suffering...mother's instinct that something was very wrong, and noticing a "sickly, sweet" smell that I would later find out is a symptom of high blood glucose levels...a second antibiotic which made her feel better...for awhile...

Week 6: A roller skating party...visits from friends...first follow-up appointment with Dr. B and the start of physical therapy...and then, a really bad day at the beach--no energy, no desire to sit on the beach, another "terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day"...pushing her, thinking she would feel better if she just moved around more (that's what everyone was telling me...everyone, that is, except Leah)...

Week 7: The last week before the start of school...calling Dr. B's office and realizing that going to school all day, every day might be too ambitious...taking the pressure off and trying to relax and rest...being told it was normal for kids to lose 10 pounds after spinal fusion surgery, and that it could take 3-4 months to gain it back, again, putting our minds at ease...Leah resting, sleeping, lying on the couch...missing the first home football game...attending the funeral of a family friend and watching Leah eat a full lunch followed by about 6 desserts, and then going swimming with her cousins afterwards, arms looking like toothpicks...starting to feel a bit better again...

Week 8: Labor Day...one last hurrah of summer at Shipshewana with our cousins...walking or sitting most of the day...first day of school on Tuesday...Leah's concerns that she was moving so slowly between classes (but she made it all day, every day that first week)...emails to teachers and appreciation for their support and concern...

Week 9: A very hot week, temps in the 90s...a schedule filled with school, physical therapy, homework, flute and piano lessons...no time to rest...a 3-hour Wednesday night band rehearsal followed by tears of sheer exhaustion...the final slump...

I remember telling Leah after band that night that she was not going to school the next day, that she needed to just stay home and rest. She didn't argue, and slept most of the day that Thursday. On Friday (Sept. 13) we went to see our family doctor. Leah had dropped another five pounds that week, and looked like a skeleton covered with skin. I was determined to get some answers (thinking "dehydration," "low potassium, magnesium, or something!"). Her blood was tested. Then finally, Friday evening...our answer came. Type 1 Diabetes had never crossed our minds, nor the minds of any of her doctors.

Which brings us to...the last 6 weeks. Getting the diabetes under control helped Leah heal in so many ways. Her incision finally fully closed up and stopped oozing. Her strength and stamina came back and she was released from physical therapy. Her weight rose back to pre-surgery levels. And best of all, her spirit, spunk, sense of humor and personality returned.

Leah's back is not yet "perfect" and never will be. For example, there's this 15" scar down the middle of it (which we're slathering with Mederma ointment whenever we remember). She still has a little numbness, tingling and pinching sensation in her hip and flinches every time we forget and pat her on the back (Dr. B says these things are normal and will subside over time). And I wouldn't call her "limber" as her rods make it a little difficult for her to bend over and touch her toes. Still, all in all, I'd call the surgery and the 16 weeks that followed a success. We're all happy with Leah's "extreme makeover" and thrilled that she will be much less apt to have back problems and pain as an adult, that the curve in her back is gone, and that the curve in her smile has returned!

Before & After shots, as promised...