It's A Go

Mike and Joel went to Saskatoon today for Joel's yearly check up.  Or maybe it's twice a year that he goes. I lose track sometimes.  Anyways, they head down to the Kinsmen Children's Centre so the physical therapist can check Joel's flexibility, range of motion and so on.  Actually, before going to the Kinsmen, they go to the hospital to have x-rays done on his hips and spine.  Then, it's to Wendy's for lunch and THEN to the Kinsmen.  After seeing the physical therapist, they meet with the doctor.  I don't know whether she's a pediatrician or what her specialty is, but she's been seeing Joel since he was born.

Over the last couple of years, Joel's spine has slowly been twisting aka he's been developing scoliosis.  The doc has kept her eye on it, but has put off surgery.  Joel started wearing a back brace a few years ago, in hopes that would stave off any further twisting.  Unfortunately, his spine is still trying to get down with Chubby Checker.

So, today the doc said surgery is now a must.  Joel will have to undergo a six hour surgery to have two steel rods inserted into his back.  It will mean at least a week in the hospital (in Saskatoon) and lengthy recovery time.  He's already had two surgeries on his legs, so this kid knows that hospitals = pain.

As Mike was recapping to me all that the doctor had said, he was picking at the ends of his fingers.  That is Mike's "tell" that he's nervous.  And he has every right to be.  The doctor told him that one out of every hundred kids doesn't survive the surgery.  A one percent chance is still a chance.  The odds of Joel ending up with cerebral palsy were slim and yet he has it.  The odds of Joel ending up with optic nerve damage during his last leg surgery were slim.  He ended up blind in his right eye.  So telling Mike that there's only a one percent chance of Joel dying is of absolutely no comfort to him.

But not having the surgery is not an option.  If Joel's spine continues to twist (and it will), then his internal organs will slowly be shifted and crushed.  Not so much a comfortable alternative.

Joel's surgery will be scheduled for sometime early in the new year.  In the meantime, I'm going to start stocking up on sedatives for Mike.  He's going to need something to get him through that week.