Surgeons Follow-up Appointments for our Granddaughter

Surgeons Follow-up Appointments for our Granddaughter

One of the comments we heard from the surgeons follow-up appointment for our granddaughter was “she is amazing”. Then her cardiovascular surgeon stated that not many would have been able to endure one major surgery, let alone two back to back, lasting 12 hours. The necklace we give to our granddaughter before surgery says it all, Alexandra is brave, strong and smart.

It was finally time for Alexandra’s Surgery on November 2, 2016 and this is the update on her 2 back to back long, delicate and complicated surgeries.

Alexandra had her three-week follow-up appointments on Tuesday, November 22 and of course hubby and I went to Ohio to be with her.  We got up a few days early so we could spend time with Alex and take her for a chest x-ray on Monday.  Of course we had to stop by Jersey Mike’s for her favorite sub.

Tuesday morning we went to the neuro surgeon’s appointment and he was amazed at how well Alex was handling the pain and recovery.  He explained how the tumor had infiltrated into her spine through the openings where the nerve endings come out and how he had to cut the spine to get everything out.  He then placed a titanium rod and screws to stabilize the spine. Since the surgeon had to cut so many nerves, muscles and bones, they now will need time to heal.  Because of the severed nerves, the center of her back to the center of her chest is numb and her left forearm is also numb but there is a possibility that maybe some of the nerves can regenerate over time.  She was so excited when the surgeon told her she could sleep on her side since up to know she had to lay flat on her back to sleep.

We then went to the hospital for the cardiovascular surgeon’s follow-up and he too was amazed at Alexandra’s progress.  It was at this appointment that we learned about the trauma she had to the front part of her tiny body.  Since the surgeon didn’t know the tumor had grown into her shoulder, he had to work both on the chest wall plus shoulder.  To get to all the parts of the tangled tumor, he had to remove a rib also.   We asked if there was any way to know how long the tumor had been growing and he told us there was no way to tell, but it was considered a slow-growing one. Because the tumor feeds and grows on the sympathetic nerves, there is a possibility that she could have another one but she will have a base line MRI in three months then she will have to get on annually to keep check on it. If by chance this happens again, it would be able to be caught early on.  As the cardiovascular surgeon was finishing up his exam he said Alexandra has so much determination and with the extent of the two surgeries, most people wouldn’t have been able to endure the pain from one, let alone two surgeries back to back.

The prayers from so many people, many from caring people that Alex or hubby and I don’t even know are what got her through the surgery and the continued prayers are helping her heal.  I am so proud of her determination as she continues to take it a day at time with her healing and pain but never complaining.

Alexandra’s next appointment will be January 2, 2017 and once again we will be with her.  Hopefully she will soon be able to drive her new car she got the day before surgery!

Thank you for the prayers, the cards and the get well gifts from so many people that helped cheer Alex up.