Grady's Cholesteatoma Surgery: Update 3

Email sent by Joe from the hospital

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Gallagher, Joseph P" <Joseph.P.Gallagher@p66.com>

Date: December 22, 2013 11:44:58 PM CST

Family –

Grady is doing well – relatively speaking, of course.  He was elated to have the external bandages removed yesterday; however, the steri-strips over his incision and the internal packing within his ear will remain for another couple of weeks – the result of such an invasive surgery.  His ear is still leaking fluids (sorry if gross) and will do so for a while longer.  Grady is getting some good naps in during the day; he usually doesn't nap, but I think he is still a bit worn out from the procedure and all of the subsequent hullabaloo.

We've already noticed some hearing loss, but we're hopeful that he'll continue to gain some back – though we suspect the net hearing loss will likely be in the 40 to 60 decibel range (moderate to severe).  Additionally, he has noticed a slight loss of taste; there is a nerve in the ear that helps control taste and it had to be sacrificed as part of the procedure.  Ultimately, it is probable that he'll have a follow up surgery to further reconstruct the inner part of the ear, which should help to improve hearing even more.

As you can imagine, the first week of our vacation has been nothing close to what we had planned.  The surgery alone threw us a curve, but we now have to keep Grady protected from possible infection, which has caused us to cancel events and alter how we interact (e.g., Grady's cousin, who has a cough, came to visit today, so Grady wore a surgical mask the entire time – he is such a tough little boy to deal with all of this!).  As an example of the severity of infection risk associated with his procedure, just one of many possible consequences of infection is meningitis (this due to the proximity of the surgical location to his brain).

So, what does all of this mean in terms of our planned Alaska vacation?  Well, here are some possible plans – depending on what we hear from the doctor this week:

·         Plan A: Proceed according to our original plan (i.e., all of us head up there).  This plan is contingent upon a 'green light' from the doctor and we'd also have to implement some measures to protect Grady during the trip.

·         Plan B: Joe, Molly, Ellery, & Briley head to Alaska; Kelly & Grady remain in Seattle.

·         Plan C: Joe, Molly, & Ellery head to Alaska; Kelly, Grady, & Briley remain in Seattle.

We'll know more once we hear from the doctor – the earliest being tomorrow.  Grady also has a follow up appointment on the 24^th.

We will keep you posted!

Love,

Joe G.

Grady's Cholesteatoma: Post OP Pics

Due to Grady's size (small) they had to do and "old fashioned" type bandage.  Joe joked with him before the surgery that he was going to get a lobotomy....and with that bandage he kind of looks like he had one. ;)

Grady's Cholesteatoma Surgery: Update 2

Email sent from Joe at the hospital

Begin forwarded message:

From: Gallagher, Joseph P 
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 7:20 PM
Subject: Grady Gallagher Update 2

All –

Well, the 2 hour procedure turned into 6 hours, but the surgeon is pleased with the results.  Grady is waking up now.  They did have to remove some of the little bones in his ear, but a prosthetic (i.e., synthetic) bone was implanted to replace what was lost.  As part of the procedure, his eardrum had to be removed; part of it was replaced during surgery, however, and the prognosis is that it will grow back eventually.  There are lots and lots of other details (much of which I do not understand!), but the good news is that the disease is gone and Grady is well.

Since the little guy was under anesthesia for so long, we may have to stay the night.  We'll see…

Thanks again for your thoughts & prayers!

Joe G.

Grady's Cholesteatoma Surgery: Update 1

This is the email Joe sent from the hospital....

From: "Gallagher, Joseph P" <Joseph.P.Gallagher@p66.com>

Date: December 19, 2013 3:35:33 PM CST

Subject: Grady Gallagher Update 1

All –

Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, phone calls, emails, & texts!  Grady just went back for surgery.  He is such a brave little guy.  I was able to be with him while they put him under.  The procedure should take about 2 hours, so Mom and I will be pacing the hospital for a while.  As soon as I get news on his condition, I will send a follow up.  For right now, it sounds like we'll be re-growing an eardrum after surgery – and possibly having follow-up procedures to put in artificial bones (the little bones that vibrate and conduct/interpret sound).

Some pictures attached.

Thanks!

Joe G.

From: Gallagher, Joseph P 
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 6:39 PM
Subject: Grady Gallagher

Hi Family –

Grady is going in for surgery Thursday, so we would appreciate your prayers for our little man.

This all began with a regular check-up, at which point the pediatrician noticed an undefinable irregularity in his right ear, so Grady was referred to an ENT (Ear Nose & Throat) doctor for further examination.  The ENT concurred about there being an anomaly and ordered a CT scan of his head to get a three-dimensional view.  The scan revealed a mass (i.e., 'benign tumor') growing behind his ear drum.  Given that this was happening right before our Washington/Alaska vacation, we elected to schedule an appointment with an Otologist/Neurotologist while in Seattle. Thankfully, we were able to find one who could see Grady – there are only about 300 of them in the country.

We arrived in Seattle last night and took Grady to see the specialist today.  I was expecting to hear that he would require a "routine" procedure to clear the mass before it caused any damage; unfortunately, we learned that the mass behind his ear drum now fills every open space within his inner ear, abuts the ear drum, and surrounds some of the tiny bones inside the ear that enable hearing.  If the mass has permeated the ear drum and/or damaged the tiny bones, they may need to be removed, causing significant if not total hearing loss.  To date, his hearing has only been mildly affected, which is attributable to the fact that the mass is artificially conducting sound, but since this particular mass (aka, cholesteatoma) eats away at bone, it has to come out to prevent further damage. 

The area inside the ear is a tiny little place, but it is Grand Central Station in terms of physiological functions – the obvious being hearing, but there are also nerves controlling balance and facial muscles in there.  Not to mention the fact that the carotid artery borders the area – as does the dura matter (lining of the brain), which not only protects the brain, but is the area from which spinal fluid originates.  With all this going on in such a small space, there is very little margin for error.

We just found this out this afternoon, so we're still a bit uneasy (to put it mildly) – especially with surgery happening the day after tomorrow (note – they have to perform the surgery by entering through the external auditory canal and through an incision they'll make behind the ear.   Again, I would appreciate you lifting up our little guy in your prayers – and pray for the medical team performing the surgery.  …and maybe a quick one for Mom & Dad as well!  : - )

We'll keep you posted!

Love,

Joe G.

Grady's Snow Removal

Uncle Jimmy had Grady clearing Aunt Dorrine's driveway with this excavator.  Grady wanted me to know that Uncle Jimmy was helping by directing....

Grady's new operator notes...and some pics

{Grady and Uncle Jimmy}

{Grady at 7 Mile Lake}

{Grady and Aunt Karen}

1. Bottomless pit

2. Hasn't stopped yet

3. Volume increases with excitement

4. Never ending

5. Again hasn't stopped yet, except to refuel

6. Hydrated in snow bank

7. Good thing he went at Goggy's

8.Lots of fuel sources here have peanuts

9. Pictures coming to parental units

10. Will call soon

{Grady's sun break on Anna Lake}

{Grady on Jimmy's machine}

Grady's Instruction Manual

Joe and Grady are up in Alaska visiting family.  Silly Uncle Jimmy and Karen are taking Grady out to the cabin for the night.  Here are the instructions Joe sent with him...

1. Works best when fed and hydrated.

2. Unit becomes noticeably whiny (and prone to injury) if over-tired.

3. Volume is stuck on highest setting -- attempts to repair this have been unsuccessful.

4. Allow ample time for unstoppable talking.

5. Moves almost continuously, bu when not in motion, will rapidly go into sleep mode.

6. May require liberal application of lubrication on surface areas due to dryness.

7. Requires wiping and inspection upon completion of waste disposal operation. 

8. Fuel sources should exclude apple products and peanut products, which seem to have an adverse operational affect -- most notably on waste disposal operations and allergic reactions.

9. Recommend connecting with maternal parental unit for latest operating system updates and system health check before powering down for the night.

10. Press GO and have FUN!

NOT a great Starbucks Ad....

Joe took Grady into Tulsa so the guys could get haircuts.  They stopped at Starbucks on the way out of town, and went into the store.  Apparently they were training a new barista who had messed up a drink.  They offered it to Joe and Grady.  It was a coffee drink, so I'm surprised Joe accepted, but he did and gave it to Grady. 

YUM-E, says the 5 year old about the Iced-Frappachino, as they jump back into the car and head south.

Just give it a few minutes for the caffeine to kick in....

5

4

3

2

1

and

zzzzzz....zzzzzzz....zzzzzz

Radio Station Tour

Uncle Ben took us all on a radio station tour.  He does a radio show in the mornings and took some time to show us around.  We met his producer and saw the rooms where they record.

Molly was a little upset that they weren't putting her chatter on "live."  She kept asking if the "cars" could hear her talk.  (On the way to the station we put the radio on in the car as we were explaining what we were doing.)

 

We even got to make a recording (I will try to figure out how to download and embed).  Grady has a great line at the end which they might use for a clip on the show!

Thanks Uncle Ben!!!

Our Polar Express

We have this great little spot downtown that we sometimes bring a picnic lunch and meet Joe.  Grady calls it the "Polar Express" because there is a train there that looks just like the one from the movie.  We all know hoe much he LOVES trains, so this is a favorite spot.  If you've come to visit us, most likely you have taken him (and the girls) there at one point...or on every visit!

This is his favorite thing to do.   It just so happens that my hair dresser is right around the corner.  You bet they just love when the kids are there! ;)

Getting rid of Ellery....

Grady seems to think that he only needs two sisters; Briley first, then Molly.  He says we can get rid of Ellery.  His next thought is we keep them all, then have 2 more boys.  Twin.  We are going to name them Finn and Lightening.  (Lightening after Lightening McQueen, of course!) 

Honestly, if we could guarantee a boy, we'd probably have another.  Statistically though, the odds are not in our favor.  I'm not a betting girl, but historically we've proven a 25% chance of having a boy.  Not the best odds! :)

Daddy's little helper

(Photo and commentary by Joe)

We were installing one of those cabinet-mounted garbage cans. This was the frame and roller board.  Flawless execution with the phillips screwdriver!  Daddy is soooo proud. Poor little guy though... Now that Mommy knows he can use tools, I am sure he'll be put to work around the house!

Dinosaur poop

Grady's all to familiar call from the bathroom....."All done pooping Mama," was followed with this today "and it looks like a dinosaur poop."

Really?  And what, exactly, does that look like I wonder?  Want to know?  I'll spare you the details.

Auto flush toilets

Still on vaca in Mexico.....

Poppy took Grady "potty" and Grady finished first.  He was telling Poppy how he beat him and then asked how to flush the toilet.  Poppy said, "hang on a minute and I'll show you" but as Grady walked away the toilet flushed.  He was so excited and says, 'WOW....I just walked away and it flushed all by itself!" (Picture a wondrous hand gesture.) "We don't have those at home!"

My sweet boy...

Throwing a bit of a tantrum

And then laughing when I played it for him.

While the cats away.....

At least he chose blue.... 

Applejuice

We are sitting at dinner and Grady asks Goggy (grandpa) if he can have a drink of his applejuice....

Um...maybe in about 18 years?

Ever feel like you're losing your mind?

It's happening on a daily basis lately (no comment needed from the hubs here...).  I walk into a room and totally forget why I went in there.  Then I walk back to where I started....still no clue.  Oh well.  I'll figure it sometime today, I hope.  It can't have been too important, right?   Old age?  (30 something is old, right?  At least I thought so when I was 15! :)  Lack of sleep?  4 kids?  Too busy?  All of the above?  Yes, I'm a bit busier than most, but I can't think of something I'd cut out.  Except for cleaning the house.  And laundry (as I look at the 8 loads that have taken over my couch today.)  Oh, and the dishes and cooking.  And my weekly trip to Wal-Mart (not many choices here in this small town.)  Gosh, what's left? :)  Oh yes, the kids.  I'll keep them....most days anyway.

And while it's on my mind....at what point did my just-turned-3 year old learn how to use the DVD player and remote???  I'm just askin'.   I certainly didn't show him.  Hmmm, does he have 2 older sisters?  Who like Tinkerbell?  Cuz that's what he wanted to watch today while I sit here and fold 8 loads of laundry.  (Did I mention that already?)  I was trying to convince him that Chuggington (trains) or Thomas would be better, but no...Tinkerbell.  That's what he requested.  

(See?  I am losing my mind.  This post probably doesn't make any sense to anyone but me.  But thank for reading it anyway.)  

Potty Training: 3 down, 1 to go

Yup.  I did it.  I took on the challenge of potty training the boy.  I bought all the supplies, scheduled it on the calendar, and hunkered down, mentally preparing for a long battle.  4 hours.  That's is.  That's all it really took.  One morning.  Really?  Why in the world have I put this off for so long???  Granted, he's only 2 1/2, so it wasn't put off THAT long, but still.  I could have had changed 1 diaper less?  What was I waiting for?  Maybe, the birth of #4 and the fear that he would revert?  Or my sleep deprived nights to end so that I had enough energy to take on the potty beast?  Anyway, didn't matter.  He did it.  Much easier and quicker than my others.  AND we are completely out of diapers.  No diapers during the day.  No diapers at nap.  No diapers at night.  My disposable spending just increased by about $50 a month.  Yippee!!

S-p-e-l-l-i-n-g

My dear son is over the moon about trains.  At Christmas, we watched "Polar Express" every day.  I mean every.  Single.  Day.  You know the part where the 2 kids are on the back on the train singing a little song about Christmas?  Well, the G-man has been humming that since mid-December.  All day.  Every day.  It was adorable....at first....but now is getting a little old. 

We're sitting at the dinner table this evening and he started humming it.  I look over at Joe and say, "I'm just about S-I-C-K of that song," with a smile (kind of).  Molly turns to us and says, "he sure does L-O-V-E that song!"