Re: My Daughter's Upcoming 1st Surgery!

[Guest guest]

I really hope the surgeries go well and before you know it Halle will be up playing. Good Luck and you and your family will be in my thoughts.

Angie

Shepherdsville, KY

From: newhavenmama <newhavenmama@...>Subject: blepharophimosis My Daughter's Upcoming 1st Surgery!blepharophimosis Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 5:55 PM

Hi everyone,I am a lurker here on this site but whether you all know it or not, you all continue to help me with more than you'll know!My 4 year old daughter, Halle is scheduled for surgery - her first - in Toronto by Dr. Pashby on Tuesday, October 28th. It seems we've waited so long for this yet I am so nervous, I wish it were farther away!I am just wondering how you all explained the surgery to your kids?? How much detail did you go into? I don't want to scare her but I don't want her to be unaware of what's going to be happening. She has never had surgery or never even been to the hospital other then to visit mommy when she had her baby sister! She was to see Dr. Pashby when she was 2 but the only thing she remembers is the plane ride, the hotel and the cool playroom in the hotel! Anyway if any of you have any tips on how to explain everything.. .or what I should ask at the

pre-op....or anything!, I'd appreciate it! Halle will be getting both parts of the eye surgery done...the lifts as well as the inner corner....so I assume she will look...well. ..not like herself....I thought of showing her some pics on here of kids and what they looked like after surgery?? To prepare her somewhat. She will want to see herself but I don't want her to be freaked out and think that is what is will always look like. Is this a day surgery? Will she be really sore afterwards?? We fly back home on THurs the 30th and I am wondering about Halloween?? Will she feel up for that? If she won't be, then I would like to possibly plan something as a back up...a party at her Nanny's or something... ?Thanks to any and all of you who have some words of wisdom! Cheers,Donna from PEI, Canada

[Guest guest]

Dear Donna,

It's been awhile since I have responded to anyone and I just want to wish you and Halle all the best in her upcoming surgery. Your letter brought back to me many memories of my daughter's surgeries. was 5 1/2 when she had her 1st surgery - bringing the corners of the eyes closer together. I can't remember how we told her about it, but she had been seeing her specialist since she was 2 months old and going to the doctor was just a regular habit. She really liked her doctors and the surgeon was so nice and she really remembers his intern assistant. He took a picture of her with a pumpkin during Halloween (months later of course). Anyway, kids are very perceptive and catch on to alot more than we sometimes give them credit for. We didn't have the use of a computer or any kind of a community site on BPES to help us out. 's surgeries took place

in 1991. I couldn't say if showing your daughter pictures would be wise or unwise. That is up to you. When I showed this site (about 3 years ago) and pictures, she said, I guess I'm not alone anymore. She thought she was the only one. She put some pics of herself under Jess (she's wearing a little green coat). About what she could do after surgery, well, went to a Garth concert at our county fair a few days after her 1st surgery and participated in her Sunday school Christmas program just 3 days after her 2nd. It was her choice for both. She had discomfort more than pain with the 1st, but the 2nd was alot more painful because they took out fascia from her left thigh. That surgical site was very sore, but she got up and walked herself (hooked up to an IV) into the bathroom. She was a stubborn little girl

and determined to get back to normal as quick as possible. Kids are so resilient. It was hard for us to see what she had to go through, but she was brave and I was so proud of her. She's 23 years old, now, and just got accepted into the College of Education at UW Whitewater where she is an English major. She is an amazing young woman. She has been attending an inner city school in Milwaukee, WI for observation teaching and a middle school student asked her, "Why are your eyes so small?" She just said, "That's the way I was born", and continued on and that was that. She said it doesn't bother her when asked. She has alot of confidence and she earns alot of respect and the kids like her. Again, I wish you all well and have a good trip and a great recovery, Halle!

Most sincerely,

Terry Helgestad ('s mom)

Edgerton, WI USA

From: newhavenmama <newhavenmama@...>Subject: blepharophimosis My Daughter's Upcoming 1st Surgery!blepharophimosis Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 12:55 PM

Hi everyone,I am a lurker here on this site but whether you all know it or not, you all continue to help me with more than you'll know!My 4 year old daughter, Halle is scheduled for surgery - her first - in Toronto by Dr. Pashby on Tuesday, October 28th. It seems we've waited so long for this yet I am so nervous, I wish it were farther away!I am just wondering how you all explained the surgery to your kids?? How much detail did you go into? I don't want to scare her but I don't want her to be unaware of what's going to be happening. She has never had surgery or never even been to the hospital other then to visit mommy when she had her baby sister! She was to see Dr. Pashby when she was 2 but the only thing she remembers is the plane ride, the hotel and the cool playroom in the hotel! Anyway if any of you have any tips on how to explain everything.. .or what I should ask at the

pre-op....or anything!, I'd appreciate it! Halle will be getting both parts of the eye surgery done...the lifts as well as the inner corner....so I assume she will look...well. ..not like herself....I thought of showing her some pics on here of kids and what they looked like after surgery?? To prepare her somewhat. She will want to see herself but I don't want her to be freaked out and think that is what is will always look like. Is this a day surgery? Will she be really sore afterwards?? We fly back home on THurs the 30th and I am wondering about Halloween?? Will she feel up for that? If she won't be, then I would like to possibly plan something as a back up...a party at her Nanny's or something... ?Thanks to any and all of you who have some words of wisdom! Cheers,Donna from PEI, Canada

[Guest guest]

Hello Donna, we are all thinking of you.

Emy had her ops at age 4, she is now 13 and also an amazing young lady. (I absolutely agree with you Terry).

We were honest with Em, and told her all about it, in a way she would understand, we showed her the hospital and she met the nurses who would look after her, I stayed with her the whole time, which helped a lot.

I would say the whole experience was a lot worse for me than her, and now when we talk about it, the only thing she remembers is the plasters (band aids) they put over her nose.

Have confidence in the fact that you have come to an informed decision, and are doing something that is right for you and your family.

We will be thinking of you.

Clare and Emy, Herts UK

From: newhavenmama <newhavenmama@ hotmail.com>Subject: blepharophimosis My Daughter's Upcoming 1st Surgery!blepharophimosisDate: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 12:55 PM

Hi everyone,I am a lurker here on this site but whether you all know it or not, you all continue to help me with more than you'll know!My 4 year old daughter, Halle is scheduled for surgery - her first - in Toronto by Dr. Pashby on Tuesday, October 28th. It seems we've waited so long for this yet I am so nervous, I wish it were farther away!I am just wondering how you all explained the surgery to your kids?? How much detail did you go into? I don't want to scare her but I don't want her to be unaware of what's going to be happening. She has never had surgery or never even been to the hospital other then to visit mommy when she had her baby sister! She was to see Dr. Pashby when she was 2 but the only thing she remembers is the plane ride, the hotel and the cool playroom in the hotel! Anyway if any of you have any tips on how to explain everything.. .or what I should ask at the

pre-op....or anything!, I'd appreciate it! Halle will be getting both parts of the eye surgery done...the lifts as well as the inner corner....so I assume she will look...well. ..not like herself....I thought of showing her some pics on here of kids and what they looked like after surgery?? To prepare her somewhat. She will want to see herself but I don't want her to be freaked out and think that is what is will always look like. Is this a day surgery? Will she be really sore afterwards?? We fly back home on THurs the 30th and I am wondering about Halloween?? Will she feel up for that? If she won't be, then I would like to possibly plan something as a back up...a party at her Nanny's or something... ?Thanks to any and all of you who have some words of wisdom! Cheers,Donna from PEI,

Canada

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,Just thought I would share with you that my daughter had her 1st surgery about 6mths ago.She will be 4 in January.Like your daughter, she had never had surgery and we thought the best way to approach it was to explain it to her as best we could. From our experience this proved to be so beneficial and the nurses etc said to us that it makes the world of difference, as they had seen other kids come in and completely freak out, as they had no idea what they were in for.We, like you waited for what seemed an eternity for the date to finally arrive, but when it did, we sooo wished we could turn back the clock!Hope everything goes well for you and your daughter, we are now waiting for our daughter's 2nd surgery date.....Thinking of you,Machaela (oz)

From: newhavenmama <newhavenmama@ hotmail.com>Subject: blepharophimosis My Daughter's Upcoming 1st Surgery!blepharophimosisDate: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 12:55 PM

Hi everyone,I am a lurker here on this site but whether you all know it or not, you all continue to help me with more than you'll know!My 4 year old daughter, Halle is scheduled for surgery - her first - in Toronto by Dr. Pashby on Tuesday, October 28th. It seems we've waited so long for this yet I am so nervous, I wish it were farther away!I am just wondering how you all explained the surgery to your kids?? How much detail did you go into? I don't want to scare her but I don't want her to be unaware of what's going to be happening. She has never had surgery or never even been to the hospital other then to visit mommy when she had her baby sister! She was to see Dr. Pashby when she was 2 but the only thing she remembers is the plane ride, the hotel and the cool playroom in the hotel! Anyway if any of you have any tips on how to explain everything.. .or what I should ask at the

pre-op....or anything!, I'd appreciate it! Halle will be getting both parts of the eye surgery done...the lifts as well as the inner corner....so I assume she will look...well. ..not like herself....I thought of showing her some pics on here of kids and what they looked like after surgery?? To prepare her somewhat. She will want to see herself but I don't want her to be freaked out and think that is what is will always look like. Is this a day surgery? Will she be really sore afterwards?? We fly back home on THurs the 30th and I am wondering about Halloween?? Will she feel up for that? If she won't be, then I would like to possibly plan something as a back up...a party at her Nanny's or something... ?Thanks to any and all of you who have some words of wisdom! Cheers,Donna from PEI,

Canada

Make the switch to the world's best email. Get 7 Mail.