Before we start, and just to be clear, Kirsty has asked me to share this information. I think she is hoping that it will save a lot of explaining and lots of concerned (or otherwise) phone calls and texts.
Several weeks ago, Phoebe's parents received an appointment date for her cleft palate surgery which was due to take place at The Evalina children's hospital in London. This was to be the first of (possibly) various future surgeries for this little one and quite probably the most important that we are aware of as the implications of not repairing the palate impact on feeding, drinking, speech and dental progression to name but a few things.
As soon as the date was known, Mum and Dad set about sorting out care for Sam for the duration of the proposed hospital stay, informed their various workplaces and sorted out time off, changes of shift etc. I was asked to have Sam, which I was delighted to do, so I managed to get someone to cover my shifts in one job and had to not go in to my other job which was all okayed by my bosses.
Almost as soon as the date was given, and as is so often the way, both babies came down with colds. So did Daddy! Both little ones sneezed and spluttered their way through for a few days but Phoebe was quite chesty and, as her Mummy described her, was being a 'snotbag'! Poor Phoebe!!
As the surgery date was looming and Phoebs wasn't getting any better, Mummy took both bubbas to the doctor last week where they were both given antibiotics as a precaution purely because of the upcoming surgery.
Yesterday, Mummy, Daddy and Phoebe boarded a train to London, Phoebe still sneezing and now coughing despite finishing her course of antibiotics. I took Sam home with me and the rest of the family went to the Evalina hospital where Phoebe had her pre op assessment. Apparently it was quite clear that the staff felt it doubtful that the surgery would go ahead because Phoebe sounded chesty but they all had to stay there overnight just incase she made some kind of incredible recovery.
Unfortunately, the opposite happened. She had a miserable night. She got barely any sleep and was coughing more than ever according to Mum and Dad who had to share a room with her.
Phoebe also had to be woken up and given a bottle at 5.30 am this morning just in case the surgery went ahead. She took the feed and then threw it up.
When they got to Ocean ward for 8 am as planned, the doctor and anaesthetist basically took one look at Phoebe and said 'No op today, I'm afraid'. They were very apologetic but I think that Mummy and Daddy were relieved. Having a general anaesthetic is a big deal for a child, especially a little 'dot' like Phoebe, and they want her to be totally healthy before she undergoes any procedure.
Mummy, Daddy and Phoebe packed their belongings, went for breakfast and then boarded a train home again with a promise of a rescheduled date for the surgery in two or three weeks time. Kirsty has always said that the op won't happen until just before Christmas so, as usual, she will probably be right!
I took Sam home to his Mummy, Daddy and sister and then bubbas, Mummy and I headed off to the doctor as Mummy had managed to get an appointment. Sam was checked over as he is still coughing but he was fine. Young Phoebe has a fever, a very red inner ear and an upper respiratory tract virus which explains the coughing and spluttering and her general malaise. Calpol and paediatric Nurofen is to be taken regularly for 5 days by which time she should be feeling better. I do hope so. She was in quite a sorry state today. She is so tired and feels so poorly. She just sat being cuddled by her Mummy and could barely lift her head up.
'I'm not feeling very well'.
Phoebe's Mummy and Daddy deliberately only told a few people about the surgery date, just as they didn't tell many people about the date of Kirsty's caesarian op when the twins were born, because they didn't want a lot of fuss and wanted to be able to get on with it and tell people when it was all over. Hopefully, any of you reading this will get all the info that you need for now which, I think, is why Kirsty asked me to write something.
Sam and I had fun anyway!
Until next time.
Nanny xxxx
