Kaiden was transferred to the surgical ward at Yorkhill Children's hospital on Tuesday afternoon, and it was a very traumatic experience for both Kaiden and Jadie.
When the Ambulance arrived I took Eva in the car and Jadie, Kaiden and one of the Nurses from Ward 66 headed down. Now, I don’t know about you, but I would have thought that an ambulance sent to pick up a 18 month old child would have some sort of child seat. But no, all they could offer was for Jadie to be strapped in to a folding seat and for Kaiden to sit on her lap. They did offer to have Kaiden restrained on a gurney, but if you have any children you would know that that could never be an option for a conscious child. It was most frustrating as I was travelling to the hospital with Kaiden’s car seat in the back.
To be honest, if I had know that this would have been the situation I would have refused to allow it. To often do we just go along with things as parents with the NHS. If you would not let your child travel in a car without being safely strapped in, why would you allow it in this case!
Anyway, when Jadie arrived at Yorkhill she was directed to ward 4b, and the Nurse from the southern remarked that she did not understand why we were being sent there as we were expecting to go to Dr Shaik’s ward which was 7c.
Jadie were about half way down the corridor to the nurses station when a rather heavy set Nurse shouted “Go in there”, which directed her to another dingy room.
This was a rather disheartening arrival which was then compounded by someone with no name badge coming and directing her to put Kaiden in a chair to be weighed.
It was just after this that Eva and I arrived to find Jadie very upset and near to tears at both the treatment and stark contrast in the look of the ward compared to the one we had just left. It was like night and day.
Anyway, we settled in and as it was dinner time for Kaiden I went hunting for somewhere to heat up the lovely beef stew that my mother had made for him.
Luckily there was a microwave in the kitchen opposite and I asked at the nurses station if it was ok to use it. “No” was the answer, that microwave is for staff use only and there was no facility to heat food for patients or parents. WTF!
This was most annoying as there was no way I would let Kaiden eat the hospital food. I insisted and they would let me use it this once.
It has got to be pretty common for parents to bring in food, they cant all let their kids eat the crap that is served! Some facility to heat up food should really be provided.
At this point, with Kaiden wanting to have a wee look round, that Jadie came out of the room with an inquisitive little boy who was probably looking for some nurses to hug. This was when the next bombshell hit as the same nurse as before shouted at her to get back into the room and that she could not leave. WTF!
Apparently as we had come from another hospital Kaiden could not leave the room until his swabs had come back negative for whatever it is that they look for, MSRS and whatnot. So when a nurse came to take the swabs I asked when they would be back, and was told that it could take 48 hours. WTF!
With Kaiden eating his dinner, Jadie was so upset with the situation that she wanted to either take Kaiden back where we came from, or home. I managed to convince that I would stay with Kaiden and see could go home and get some sleep with Eva.
I have to say that this was a very harrowing experience for us and for Kaiden as he would see us upset. For a wee boy on the mend who wanted to play and interact with other people and being allowed to play and move around for two days after his operation to then be restricted to a small room was ridicules.
We were on the surgical ward which was really set up for patents recovering from very serious operations. Most of the kids here were confined to their beds anyway and they had very little facility for someone for whom you would not know had had and operation if you could not see the stitches.
We really should never have been moved down to that ward and no one could explain why.
Kaiden and the recovery
Maybe because Kaiden has over done it on Monday , or maybe because he had picked up the stomach bug that Eva, Jadie and I had suffered from, he did not keep his dinner down and had thrown up during the night.
The next day he was a little groggy and grumpy. I feel this was due to the Anaesthetic and painkillers wearing off as well as the bug. The staff at Ward 66 in the Southern General were fantastic and the facilities were good. There was a nice parents room, kind of like a break out room, which had a fridge and microwave. As you know the hospital food is not great and we do not feed Kaiden chips twice a day at home, so why would we here. The family made some lovely dinners for Kaiden and Jadie which made them feel that little bit better.
Figure: Kaiden having a wee sleepy
The day after the operation Kaiden had his dressing removed and got his first proper bath. This gave us a good look at his stitching, and I have never seen a neater job, nor a smaller incision for what he had. We love Mss Jennifer Brown (our neurosurgeon.)
Although Kaiden was more sleepy today, he still had time to play with the other kids, and he loved getting huggies and carries from the Nurses (Kaiden likes nurses.)
Figure: How neat is that scar going to be
We were told that we would be moving down to Yorkhill Children's hospital, and that would be by ambulance and we would be going to Dr Shaik’s endocrinology ward. We had been over to see Dr. Shaik’s before and had stayed on his ward. He is very nice and his staff are exemplary as well.
The next day he was a little groggy and grumpy. I feel this was due to the Anaesthetic and painkillers wearing off as well as the bug. The staff at Ward 66 in the Southern General were fantastic and the facilities were good. There was a nice parents room, kind of like a break out room, which had a fridge and microwave. As you know the hospital food is not great and we do not feed Kaiden chips twice a day at home, so why would we here. The family made some lovely dinners for Kaiden and Jadie which made them feel that little bit better.
Figure: Kaiden having a wee sleepy
The day after the operation Kaiden had his dressing removed and got his first proper bath. This gave us a good look at his stitching, and I have never seen a neater job, nor a smaller incision for what he had. We love Mss Jennifer Brown (our neurosurgeon.)
Although Kaiden was more sleepy today, he still had time to play with the other kids, and he loved getting huggies and carries from the Nurses (Kaiden likes nurses.)
Figure: How neat is that scar going to be
We were told that we would be moving down to Yorkhill Children's hospital, and that would be by ambulance and we would be going to Dr Shaik’s endocrinology ward. We had been over to see Dr. Shaik’s before and had stayed on his ward. He is very nice and his staff are exemplary as well.
Kaiden and the operation
Today was the day of the operation. I arrived at the hospital at 7:30am and Jadie and Kaiden were all ready. We were taken down to the Anaesthetic room to get Kaiden off to sleep and although they usually only let one parent in to the room, we managed to blag both of us in.
Kaiden got a hug from him Mum and the Anaesthesiologist used his hand as a mask to get him to take the gas. Once Kaiden was asleep the Anaesthesiologist swapped hand for a mask and we put Kaiden onto the gurney and were ushered out.
We did not want to just sit in the hospital for 3 hours terrorising each other, so we headed out to pick up Kai’s sister Eva and take her out for a while.
We had been told lots of different estimates of the operation time from 3 hours to 5 hours, so we were actually surprised when only 2 hours later I got a message on my answer phone.
The operation had gone well, and with no problems at all. We got the call after a few minutes to go down and see Kaiden and we headed down to the recovery room.
Figure: Kaiden about 30 minutes out of theatre
Our very brave boy had not even cried when he woke up and although we had been told that it was standard practice to send all young children to ICU (Intensive Care Unit), they said that Kaiden could just go back up to the ward.
Figure: Kaiden has a red face from the anaesthetic
If everyone was surprised at his alertness 30 minutes out of theatre you should have seen how surprised they were after another hour!
Figure: Kaiden playing with his new fire engine
Just after this Jenifer Brown was up to see us and she explained that the operation went very well with no complications. She was able to put a big hole in the top of the cyst, but only a small one in the bottom as she was at the limit of the reach of the instruments and there was little room. This is good news as it means that we may be all done from the surgery side (fingers crossed).
She was happy for us to be transferred to Yorkhill Children's hospital to see Doctor Shaky the Endocrinologist, whom had requested the transfer. That Jenifer was happy to have Kaiden out from under her supervision so early was fantastic, but that the endocrinologist had requested a transfer does not bode well for the results of the earlier tests.
After that Kaiden has been very chatty and even tried to climb out of his cot. He could have been trying to stand, or the escape attempt might have been to avoid the hospital food (Chips serves twice a day for the kids! Remember the previously mentioned healthy policy of only diet fizzy drinks being sold on hospital grounds).
Figure: Contemplating escape
I left about 4pm to get Eva for a visit and once we got back they played for a while. Eva was very happy to see her brother and mum, but was very unhappy to leave. I think it must have been around 5:30pm that we left, just as the chips arrived.
Jadie called about 10pm to say that Kaiden has been crying for two hours and she could not quieten him. He had been crying so hard that he has split his wound (but not his stitches thank goodness) and the nurses were now prowling the corridors with him in his pram, which had entertained him enough that he stopped crying.
This I think is the result of Kaiden over doing himself after such a serious operation and that he would be very frustrated at spending another night in the boring hospital. When Jadie had first called I was quite worried, but on reflection its a lot for a wee man. I don’t know what he was running on all afternoon, but whatever it was it has run out.
Jadie called again at 11pm to say that Kai was sound asleep. So far, all is well and Kaiden has successfully had his Arachnoid Cyst fenestrated.
Kaiden got a hug from him Mum and the Anaesthesiologist used his hand as a mask to get him to take the gas. Once Kaiden was asleep the Anaesthesiologist swapped hand for a mask and we put Kaiden onto the gurney and were ushered out.
We did not want to just sit in the hospital for 3 hours terrorising each other, so we headed out to pick up Kai’s sister Eva and take her out for a while.
We had been told lots of different estimates of the operation time from 3 hours to 5 hours, so we were actually surprised when only 2 hours later I got a message on my answer phone.
“That's Kaiden out of theatre and in recovery sooner than expected”We managed to read many, many things into “sooner than expected” on the way to the hospital but once we got there we got the good news.
The operation had gone well, and with no problems at all. We got the call after a few minutes to go down and see Kaiden and we headed down to the recovery room.
Figure: Kaiden about 30 minutes out of theatreOur very brave boy had not even cried when he woke up and although we had been told that it was standard practice to send all young children to ICU (Intensive Care Unit), they said that Kaiden could just go back up to the ward.
Figure: Kaiden has a red face from the anaesthetic
If everyone was surprised at his alertness 30 minutes out of theatre you should have seen how surprised they were after another hour!
Figure: Kaiden playing with his new fire engine
Figure: Kaiden only one hour after surgery on his brain
Just after this Jenifer Brown was up to see us and she explained that the operation went very well with no complications. She was able to put a big hole in the top of the cyst, but only a small one in the bottom as she was at the limit of the reach of the instruments and there was little room. This is good news as it means that we may be all done from the surgery side (fingers crossed).
She was happy for us to be transferred to Yorkhill Children's hospital to see Doctor Shaky the Endocrinologist, whom had requested the transfer. That Jenifer was happy to have Kaiden out from under her supervision so early was fantastic, but that the endocrinologist had requested a transfer does not bode well for the results of the earlier tests.
Figure: Kaiden only two hours after surgery on his brain
Figure: Contemplating escapeI left about 4pm to get Eva for a visit and once we got back they played for a while. Eva was very happy to see her brother and mum, but was very unhappy to leave. I think it must have been around 5:30pm that we left, just as the chips arrived.
Jadie called about 10pm to say that Kaiden has been crying for two hours and she could not quieten him. He had been crying so hard that he has split his wound (but not his stitches thank goodness) and the nurses were now prowling the corridors with him in his pram, which had entertained him enough that he stopped crying.
This I think is the result of Kaiden over doing himself after such a serious operation and that he would be very frustrated at spending another night in the boring hospital. When Jadie had first called I was quite worried, but on reflection its a lot for a wee man. I don’t know what he was running on all afternoon, but whatever it was it has run out.
Jadie called again at 11pm to say that Kai was sound asleep. So far, all is well and Kaiden has successfully had his Arachnoid Cyst fenestrated.
Kaiden and the sword
The day before the operation (Sunday 11th July 2010) we arrived at the Southern General at 1pm to get the bloods redone that had failed before. True to usual NHS from we were asked why we came in so early and the bloods could be taken later!
Figure: Kaiden got settled in and found the TV
The only doctor on shift on a Sunday afternoon promptly arrives 4 hours later to take the bloods. An predictably enough insisted on going through the whole rigmarole of “try this arm” no!, Lets try the other one and so on. However this doctor managed to get at least some blood. This blood was needed for two reasons.
First for Typing, I guess just in case Kaiden’s blood type had changed since Friday, but more importantly to make sure that there is some compatible blood available just in case.
Figure: Kaiden was quite happy in thy play room
The problem was that the doctor did not think that they had been able to take enough blood for this test, but she convinced the lab tech to have a go. The doctor said that they could have the bloods taken once Kaiden was asleep before the operation to make it less traumatic.
While that was going on we decided to head out for dinner and took Kaiden out to TGI Fridays at the Escape centre and sat for a while to watch the snowboarders.
Figure: Kaiden with a sword balloon
When we arrived back at the hospital we were told what we expected, that the bloods needed to be taken again, but that the Anaesthetic Consultant was not happy to wait until the operation. By now it was quite late, about 8pm and we were worried that Kaiden would not get any sleep. The shift changed at 8:30pm so we made sure that the same doctor and she started where she left off.
After a few attempts and lots of screaming she managed to get double the amount of the last time.
This time it was OK (sigh)…
I headed home to get some sleep before the big day and Jadie stayed with Kaiden.
Figure: Kaiden got settled in and found the TV
The only doctor on shift on a Sunday afternoon promptly arrives 4 hours later to take the bloods. An predictably enough insisted on going through the whole rigmarole of “try this arm” no!, Lets try the other one and so on. However this doctor managed to get at least some blood. This blood was needed for two reasons.
First for Typing, I guess just in case Kaiden’s blood type had changed since Friday, but more importantly to make sure that there is some compatible blood available just in case.
Figure: Kaiden was quite happy in thy play room
The problem was that the doctor did not think that they had been able to take enough blood for this test, but she convinced the lab tech to have a go. The doctor said that they could have the bloods taken once Kaiden was asleep before the operation to make it less traumatic.
While that was going on we decided to head out for dinner and took Kaiden out to TGI Fridays at the Escape centre and sat for a while to watch the snowboarders.
Figure: Kaiden with a sword balloon
When we arrived back at the hospital we were told what we expected, that the bloods needed to be taken again, but that the Anaesthetic Consultant was not happy to wait until the operation. By now it was quite late, about 8pm and we were worried that Kaiden would not get any sleep. The shift changed at 8:30pm so we made sure that the same doctor and she started where she left off.
After a few attempts and lots of screaming she managed to get double the amount of the last time.
This time it was OK (sigh)…
I headed home to get some sleep before the big day and Jadie stayed with Kaiden.
Kaiden and the bloody mess
On Friday we were at the hospital for all the pre-operation things.
We were in at 10am for a day of mostly waiting around. Luckily the facilities for kids in the Southern General are fantastic, and Kai had lots of toys to play with.
Figure: King Kai
We had a visit from the anaesthesiologist which was good. He talked about the process and what would happen. It looks like only one parent is usually allowed down to the anaesthetic room, but it depends on the Anaesthetic Consultant that we get. Apparently the room is rather small, and if only one parent is allowed it will most likely be Jadie.
Figure: Something is funny
One of the junior doctors came in to take bloods, and we told them about the previous problems of getting blood from Kaiden, but they would not listen. So another traumatic time trying to get blood, which ended with a heal prick. Will they never listen?
Figure: All I need now is a beer
One strange thing was that when I went looking for some coke all of the vending machines has diet drinks only. Apparently this is the NHS’s attempt at healthy. You have got to be kidding, let alone the Aspartime in the diet drinks that is know to cause problems, they are still fizzy drinks. What a joke!
We had a visit from Jennifer Brown who again delivered straight talk, but in addition she said that in her experience and from having a good look at the scan’s she did not think that Kaiden would be affected intellectually in the long term. She said that it looks like it is just his gross motor skills that are affected. This is fantastic news, even though it comes with no guarantees. Time to head home.
Well, the hospital called a few hours after we had left the hospital to say the Kaiden’s blood was congealed and they could not run any of the tests. Going back at 1pm on Sunday instead of after bedtime as was the plan.
Figure: Cute as a button
So, Kaiden goes back into hospital at 1pm tomorrow and they plan to do the operation at around 9am on Monday.
We were in at 10am for a day of mostly waiting around. Luckily the facilities for kids in the Southern General are fantastic, and Kai had lots of toys to play with.
Figure: King Kai
We had a visit from the anaesthesiologist which was good. He talked about the process and what would happen. It looks like only one parent is usually allowed down to the anaesthetic room, but it depends on the Anaesthetic Consultant that we get. Apparently the room is rather small, and if only one parent is allowed it will most likely be Jadie.
Figure: Something is funny
One of the junior doctors came in to take bloods, and we told them about the previous problems of getting blood from Kaiden, but they would not listen. So another traumatic time trying to get blood, which ended with a heal prick. Will they never listen?
Figure: All I need now is a beer
One strange thing was that when I went looking for some coke all of the vending machines has diet drinks only. Apparently this is the NHS’s attempt at healthy. You have got to be kidding, let alone the Aspartime in the diet drinks that is know to cause problems, they are still fizzy drinks. What a joke!
We had a visit from Jennifer Brown who again delivered straight talk, but in addition she said that in her experience and from having a good look at the scan’s she did not think that Kaiden would be affected intellectually in the long term. She said that it looks like it is just his gross motor skills that are affected. This is fantastic news, even though it comes with no guarantees. Time to head home.
Well, the hospital called a few hours after we had left the hospital to say the Kaiden’s blood was congealed and they could not run any of the tests. Going back at 1pm on Sunday instead of after bedtime as was the plan.
Figure: Cute as a button
So, Kaiden goes back into hospital at 1pm tomorrow and they plan to do the operation at around 9am on Monday.
Kaiden and the scared sister
Jennifer Brown’s office called today and we now have a date for the operation. Kaiden will be admitted to the Southern General tomorrow (9th July 2010) and they will operate on Monday (12th July 2010). Jenifer did say she wanted to do it quickly…
When Kaiden is admitted to hospital tomorrow they will be running all of the tests and helping us complete all the relevant paper work that they need, we will be taking Kai home in the evening as the actual operation is not until Monday. It is better to have him home on Saturday rather than stuck in the hospital doing nothing. Then it’s back to the hospital on Sunday and they will operate on Monday morning.
It has been a long slog from the 26th May 2010 when he had his Scan and we were told about the Arachnoid Cyst, the Hydrocephalus and we saw the scans. It was only 2 months ago, but a frantic and distraught two months.
![IMAG0233[4]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxxbOZ6QiSLagr3uWy_Cl3cr6z6DAwLvcY1zzRUReZxO58I0kPCWH4ak6XqX-WhKIZeeQRBMBDGdPxJWVfWGPcH1FRNNRm8JIWr_e2wTNm7HiNyHSPnBjje-yP1oeS41kpO7GeH93jeQ/?imgmax=800 "IMAG0233[4]")
Figure: Afternoon nap with his big sis
Our current understanding is that Kaiden will be in for a week to recover, but that most of that is for observation and to prevent infections. The operation itself is not a “taxing” one on the body so he should be bright and alert as soon as the aesthetic wares off.
Figure: Kai & Eva having sleepy hugs
Kaiden’s sister Evangelina has been very worried about him, and for a three year old this must all be very scary. A couple of times she has said:
Now all we are wishing for is a happy & healthy baby boy, who makes a speedy recovery, with nothing holding him back from walking and talking…. here is hoping…
When Kaiden is admitted to hospital tomorrow they will be running all of the tests and helping us complete all the relevant paper work that they need, we will be taking Kai home in the evening as the actual operation is not until Monday. It is better to have him home on Saturday rather than stuck in the hospital doing nothing. Then it’s back to the hospital on Sunday and they will operate on Monday morning.
It has been a long slog from the 26th May 2010 when he had his Scan and we were told about the Arachnoid Cyst, the Hydrocephalus and we saw the scans. It was only 2 months ago, but a frantic and distraught two months.
![IMAG0233[4]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1yCkUMqG20H7Za2iMEKW9hdfphc4PjKQf578NHanpUDcIBrLbYIRyyQdWr3fVzXknsQR35TPp3i9NJoBPmJ4krJZEcGp1lTQU71wPlLMCFuugInvgGzJ8CkZroSenCq92boGBPMK970/s1600-h/IMAG023345.jpg "IMAG0233[4]")
Figure: Afternoon nap with his big sis
Our current understanding is that Kaiden will be in for a week to recover, but that most of that is for observation and to prevent infections. The operation itself is not a “taxing” one on the body so he should be bright and alert as soon as the aesthetic wares off.
Figure: Kai & Eva having sleepy hugs
Kaiden’s sister Evangelina has been very worried about him, and for a three year old this must all be very scary. A couple of times she has said:
Why are they going to cut Kai’s head off (sniff)It just shows what they pick up, and we had to explain everything, which she accepted just fine.
Now all we are wishing for is a happy & healthy baby boy, who makes a speedy recovery, with nothing holding him back from walking and talking…. here is hoping…
Kaiden and the Neurosurgeon
Today was the day to see the Neurosurgeon. We took Kaiden to the Southern General Hospital for his appointment with Miss Jennifer Brown FRCS. We had heard from staff at the Southern that she did not have a good bedside manor, but that could not be further from the truth. She is just a strait talker, and by the time you get to see her, that is really what you need.
Figure: The Boy – Kaiden is a happy boy who is frustrated at not walking
She does not want to do a Shunt as she considers that the old way of doing things, but instead prefers to do endoscopic neurosurgery to go in through the high side of Kaiden’s head and make an incision in the top of the cyst. She will then push the endoscope into the cyst and make an incision at the bottom creating a channel for the fluid to escape.
Figure: The Arachnoid Cyst – The cyst is blocking fluid like a plug
If that does not work, which she thinks it will, she would do a second surgery to put in a shunt. Shunts tend to have a much greater chance of infection and rejection as you would have a little tube going from your brain al the way to your stomach. A Shunt can also be blocked and contains a little valve that can brake.
She answered all of the questions we put to her with compassion and with no nonsense that we can all associate with ignorance and uncertainty.
There is a 1% chance of major complications and by that Jennifer talked of cranial bleeds of which she has only seen 2 in 25 years of neurosurgery. There is also a 10% chance of minor complications but they are all manageable.
Figure: The Hydrocephalus - Fluid build up behind the cyst
Jenifer can’t give any guarantees that Kaiden’s gross motor skill will improve once the procedure has been completed as damage to those sections of his brain may already have been done, but she is confident based on previous cases that the outlook is good. At worst there should be no further exacerbation of the hydrocephalus and thus no more damage incurred. As Kaiden is so young it is difficult to tell what is late development due to damage and what is late development due to…well..being a lazy boy. In saying that she is very certain that being over six months behind in his gross motor skills is due to the hydrocephalus and the cyst.
Figure: The Pirate – At Kaiden’s first birthday he was a pirate
Baring any emergencies she plans to do the operation within 4 weeks which is fantastic news for anxious parents wanting things to start moving and but also fills us with fear and hope for the outcome.
Figure: The Boy – Kaiden is a happy boy who is frustrated at not walking
She does not want to do a Shunt as she considers that the old way of doing things, but instead prefers to do endoscopic neurosurgery to go in through the high side of Kaiden’s head and make an incision in the top of the cyst. She will then push the endoscope into the cyst and make an incision at the bottom creating a channel for the fluid to escape.
Figure: The Arachnoid Cyst – The cyst is blocking fluid like a plug
If that does not work, which she thinks it will, she would do a second surgery to put in a shunt. Shunts tend to have a much greater chance of infection and rejection as you would have a little tube going from your brain al the way to your stomach. A Shunt can also be blocked and contains a little valve that can brake.
She answered all of the questions we put to her with compassion and with no nonsense that we can all associate with ignorance and uncertainty.
There is a 1% chance of major complications and by that Jennifer talked of cranial bleeds of which she has only seen 2 in 25 years of neurosurgery. There is also a 10% chance of minor complications but they are all manageable.
Figure: The Hydrocephalus - Fluid build up behind the cyst
Jenifer can’t give any guarantees that Kaiden’s gross motor skill will improve once the procedure has been completed as damage to those sections of his brain may already have been done, but she is confident based on previous cases that the outlook is good. At worst there should be no further exacerbation of the hydrocephalus and thus no more damage incurred. As Kaiden is so young it is difficult to tell what is late development due to damage and what is late development due to…well..being a lazy boy. In saying that she is very certain that being over six months behind in his gross motor skills is due to the hydrocephalus and the cyst.
Figure: The Pirate – At Kaiden’s first birthday he was a pirate
Baring any emergencies she plans to do the operation within 4 weeks which is fantastic news for anxious parents wanting things to start moving and but also fills us with fear and hope for the outcome.
