Kensli "Wild Child" Update

Yesterday was one of the longest days of my life! We had to report to the hospital at 6 am, and that meant getting up at 4 am. They took her from us around 7 and the look on her face, even though she was sedated, was haunting. The thought that because of the sedation she wouldn't remember any of the trauma was comforting.

We got our first update within the hour, right before the acutal surgery started. We didn't get to see her again until after 11 am. That is a long time to go without touching her and her going through something like this.

When we did get to see her, we were prepared for the tubes, oxygen, etc. but not the crying out. When she heard our voices she began to become really upset. We left her for awhile to let them get her more stable. They had to tie her hands and feet to the bed because she fought them so and kept trying to pull out tubes. Even though she was restrained, she could still get her behind a good foot off the bed.

She did really well in ICU, so they moved her to a regular room around 6 pm last night. The nurse said she has never seen a child moved from surgery, to ICU, to a regular room the same day in her 10 yrs of working here. She had a fretful night because of the chest tube they had in her side. Also, they had to leave her on oxygen overnight and she hates it in her nose.

This morning they started bright and early, around 6 am, getting her ready for the removal of the tubes and oxygen. They removed all the tubes and the oxygen around 9 am and we are waiting for the x-rays to come back so she can eat. She is hungry, which is a REALLY good sign!

We are so thankful to the staff. They have made this experience much less stressful and traumatic! They are the best! Yesterday, Kensli really showed out and they nicknamed her "wild child," but hopefully today she will become "Princess" to all of them!