One year ago today.....

November 19, 2007, Annalyse had her surgery. We can't believe it has been a year already. What a day that was, sitting around for nearly 8 hours waiting for it to be over. On me it wasn't as nerve racking as it was on Alison and her mom. It was funny watching Jan continually crochet scarfs for x-mas presents. She may have done two or three of them that day. It was a relief when they said the surgery went well and we could see her in a little bit. Well that little bit seemed like forever. Seeing her lay there all tied down and blood trip tubes there was worse than waiting. At least for me, since I don't like blood all the much. Overall it was an experience where patience was certainly tested, in terms of sleepless nights, sleeping with her in a chair to keep her head up, doctor and helmet appointments, etc. At least this was done when she was young and she won't remember any of this, only pictures. Below are some pictures before surgery, few days after surgery and now.

In case some of you were wondering what she had it was craniosynostosis http://www.ccakids.com/Syndrome/Craniosynostosis.pdf. She had the plagiocephaly form.


Before surgery you can see the right eye and side of head of Annalyse (left) deformed a little.


Right before the surgery


After surgery, I still get oozy thinking about it.


Another after surgery pic.


Picture of the incision, from one ear to the other. They actually pull the skin down past her nose so they can remove most of the skull and rebuild it (100 plus screws and 20 plus plates. The skull was cut up into 23 different pieces)


Alison holding her two days after. As you can see her eyes swelled shut.


Me holding her on Thanksgiving. Eye swelling went down and is in good spirits.


Grandma Jan holding Annalyse on day five, of which was her discharge day. Amazing on day five she looks so much better.


Day 6, happy as can be, like nothing had happened. Remarkable.


Now everything looks great.