Sarah's Ear Surgery

Lot's of you have asked me how Sarah's surgery went last week- she had to have tubes put into her ears for her chronic ear infections. They are meant to allow air to circulate and fluid to drain, in the hopes that more ear infections do not happen. I tried to take some photos of the event, but I am not the best photographer (and I am using a backup camera since mine broke).

Sarah was a very good patient, more so , a very good girl for the whole experience. She was cooperative and happy the whole time. The entire visit to the surgery center lasted about 1.5 hours, from check-in to prep to surgery to recovery to coming back home.

Sarah in the waiting room as we waited to go back to prep for surgery.

Sarah right after surgery prep--where the nurse talked with us about the procedure, the anesthesiologist told us what was going to happen and how she may/may not react. Sarah had to wear a little hospital gown and non-skid slippers which she would not even let us put on her feet! After she was dressed, she was able to go to another small play area to wait and play before going back to surgery. She had fun playing with all the toys they had! Notice the wipe in her hand?...lately she has been asking for and carrying around baby wipes like they are some sort of security blanket!

This is Sarah right after surgery, back in her recovery room. She is passed out from the anesthesia. The whole surgery only took about 10 minutes. Stephen carried her to the surgery and laid her on the bed--I could not make myself go...I knew I would cry and then wouldn't be able to stop! Stephen said he had to seriously fight back the tears as he laid her on the stretcher and held her hand as they put the mask on her face. But Sarah was good as gold, she let the nurse do it, and just laid there looking at everything and everyone in the room. She didn't even try to get up or fight the mask. Here she is hooked to the machine that monitors her blood pressure and pulse.

At this point, Sarah had started to wake from the anesthesia, and the nurse popped her pacifier in her mouth so she would wake comfortably and securely.

After Sarah woke up, she wanted to nurse, and then she let us take her out of her hospital gown and put her clothes back on. Within 10 minutes of her waking, we were able to leave and come home! I'm so glad its all over! And I hope she stays healthy from her on out...no more ear infections!