2-17-08

12-16-08

I don’t have much to give you, energy wise, as I write this update. It has been an exhausting few months, to say the least. So I am going to keep it short, simple and to point.

The day coincided with a video we agreed to do for Lifespan (the hosptial’s organization) and their fundraising gala. So our day began at 7:30, after the interview with plastics already began.

We met with the plastic surgeon on the 10th to discuss Orien Rose’s next surgery. He has not seen her in about 6 months and was pleased with the work he has done. He will not reopen her face, but instead give it a “treatment” that will aid in softening the scar and speeding up the healing. He wanted to take no chances on aggravating that spot again. He spoke to us about the procedure and how he will shave some of the bone on her eye (there is a bump there) and fill in the crack that has formed. This is the spot they had to pack with soft tissue to keep a barrier between her nose and her brain as the Dura Mater re-opened with the jostling of the orbital reconstruction.

The plastic surgeon was concerned with the spot on her head that now hosts two small scabs. Not seeing her in months, and not seeing the progression, he was greatly concerned and wanted us to take yet another trip to ID. Orien worked his magic and got us into see ID between our plastics appointment and our 10am CT scan. It was determined that nothing could be done, and she was fine (ID said).

So, after a short delay at check-in due to paperwork, we were on to the CT scan and revisiting the moment I fell to the floor watching the CT scan doors close. I could hear Orien and Orien Rose inside, and I spoke outside about fear and nightmares. I spoke about what it was like to be in that long, sterile hallway…alone. My only connection to the two most important people in my life was through a closed door and connected by voice only.

From the CT scan, we visited floor 5 where we said hello to some of the nurses, got some more good shots and then Orien and I were interviewed separately. This took about 40 minutes a piece, where we revisited our experiences with the accident and in the hospital. I don’t know what I said. I know I cried a lot, though and tried to maintain stature as I wanted to say something important, something that would let people know how important the work Hasbro has done is.

After the interviewing was over, we had one last stop. We had to go to the plastic surgeon’s office so they could take pictures of Orien Rose for the upcoming cranial reconstruction. Here we discussed a time limit for the next surgery. Neuro wants it in April, plastics is saying they will not operate if there is even the slightest scab on the head. And…once it is healed, they want to wait three months from that point. So, this is where we step out and let plastics and neuro do their dance. We will keep you updated once we know more.

As always, thank you for your support. It is much needed as the energy picks up around schedules, more appointments, doctor’s schedules and preferences, etc… Orien and I are being hard with each other as stressors pick up. I know that I need to readjust to the changing energies and greatly appreciate the calls that still happen to check in. It keeps me grounded in what is important, it keeps me focused.