The Day Before

Once we actually got to the hotel, things were just fine. We were so exhausted we all ate a cereal bar for dinner and went to bed. The hotel staff hadn't put a crib in our room yet, but our daughter didn't care. She was asleep by herself in a queen bed in no time flat.


In the morning we had breakfast at the hotel restaurant and we were off to meet with the Therapist who makes the splints for Dr. Nath. It. Took. Forever. They have a cute little play room with tons of things for the little ones to do. Our little one was not interested in the least. She wanted only what she could not have.

On this visit, they create a splint made out of this molded plastic stuff and some kind of foamy stuff, and it Velcros all over the place. It's crazy. We have a relatively well-behaved child, and the situation is a little intimidating, so it went quickly as she sat pretty still. Then, after waiting...waiting...waiting, we were sent on our way with a very funky teapot-looking contraption in a hideous brown color. With us went a list of instructions on the care of said teapot, and a note from the doctor to the airline stating that my child is not smuggling guns in her splint and that it need not come off for any reason.

Later that day, we had a pre-op appointment with the doctor. It was the first time we had seen him since the trip to Chicago, and we had lots of questions. The wait, again, was long. It was okay, though. This appointment would change our lives in a very positive way. I took the time to talk to the other parents in the room. I showed my daughter a girl her age wearing the splint, so she could see it. I'm pretty sure she didn't really get it, but it helped me to see that this beautiful girl didn't seem to mind it at all.

We spoke to this family at length. Well, mostly the mother and I talked while the dads did what they could to entertain the kids. And I loved her. Should anyone find themselves in a situation where they are in a room with someone who has so much in common with you, please use that opportunity! The wait was long, but I really didn't notice. It was nice to not be consumed with worry for a moment. The other mother is a caring, wonderful woman who clearly loves her baby the way I love mine. The way a baby should be loved. She is on this roller-coaster of insurance-travel-money-money-money, too. We clicked right away, and remain friends to this day. We will stay together for our next trip to Texas, as the girls will both be getting the same surgery at the same time. To be able to connect with this other family in such a way was the best part of the trip, for me. There just really isn't anyone who understands a BPI mom the way another BPI mom does. Not even a BPI dad, try as he might.

Finally, we were called back to the next room. Somewhere else to wait, though not nearly as long. Nurses took pictures of our daughter's injury using all kinds of fun tricks that come with the trade. They were really encouraging to us about her abilities and made us feel at home. The doctor came shortly after, and he explained the procedure in more detail. He was easy to talk to, and he was sweet to our girl. The only surprise was that when we walked in, we thought we needed only two surgeries, and when we walked out, we knew we would need three. The first is called the Mod Quad, and it was what had brought us to sunny Houston that day. The second is the Triangle Tilt. We were told that we could have that surgery as early as three months after the Mod Quad. As long as your child is up to it, getting them close together and while they are young will yield the most benefit. We were instructed not to feed her after midnight, and to be at the hospital at some ungodly hour in the morning. We thanked him profusely, paid the lady at the desk twice as much as we had been prepared for, and headed back to our room.

We had dinner and put the baby to bed. Tried not to act too nervous around her. Got her back up around 11:oo to have a snack and a bath, which was a mistake. She was pissed. Well, she's always cool with food, but she was NOT thrilled with the bath. I don't imagine we were the favorite residents of the holiday at midnight that evening. But, you know what? Y'all shouldn't use up all the hot water. You never know when a poor baby needs to have a comforting bath before the biggest event of her life!

We all went to bed. The baby slept. Of course. She didn't know what was coming. We did. We did not sleep. Not a wink for me, and not much more for my husband. It is so scary to hand your precious, wanted, loved, amazing child over to a bunch of strangers in white coats with masks over their faces. There is so much pressure to stay calm about it for them. There is risk with every surgery. She is so small.

We were up by 6:00, and we didn't want to eat, but she did. So, we had to distract her for awhile, which was difficult, because I was barfing all morning. My stomach was just in knots for my baby. I wanted it to be me. I wanted her to understand that we were doing it because we loved her. I wanted to say everything I ever might say in her lifetime. I wanted to protect her from it all, but it was already too late for that. Now I just had to be there for her while she faced this challenge, and help her through the next ones as well.