Post-Op day 1

A rough night for Jake who was agitated from his swelling due to the allergic reaction in addition to surgical wounds. The second dose of adovan seemed to work letting Jake rest at 3am. By 6 am the mystery rash had dissipated, a positive sign. Team after Team stopped by to check on Jake, many confused by his allergic reaction wondering what could have caused this unexpected event. Despite the other Dr.'s thinking the allergy team would have answers, the allergists couldn't offer an explanation. Only a referral to an allergist to test Jake when we return home so we don't experience this again during a procedure. With the rash subsiding, most of the teams agreed that Jake would be able to move down to a regular room and felt that as long as nothing unusual happened, we would still be able to make our Friday night flight out of Boston. The surgical team was pleased with the end result of Jake's thumb but did encounter some surprises with his bone graft and quality of bone to draw from. Most of the day was spent with both of us in bed with Jake playing videos on our phones. His new favorite a class performance of cousin Leo's class singing Alphabet Stew. Before Aunt Stacey left for home, we had to have her message us the video to continue its top status on Jake's video playlist. The anesthesiologist came by again to discuss the allergic reaction and urged of the importance to have Jake checked out due to it causing anaphylactic shock. The suspected culprit is the gel foam that was used to stop blood flow and fill the space where the bone graft was taken from Jake's hip. Apparently, the Drs. found a letter to the editor in a medical journal which cited a case where this happened. Good news came in the afternoon and we were on our way out of ICU to a regular room. After settling, Jake wanted a walk so a walk is what he got. We disconnected him from the machines and toured what felt like every inch of the hospital with Jake in his stroller. After a while we had to return as Dr. Upton was paying us a visit. We discussed the reaction again and he did let us know that it was serious but if a reaction like that would happen, better to be in a hospital where it can be controlled immediately. Needless to say we are being sent home with Epi-pens as a precaution. Dr. Upton spent some time discussing Jake and future surgical protocol to keep in mind for in the future. He seems willing and ready to hand Jake's care over to his former fellow and assured us that Jake will be in good hands. He did comment again on Jake overall and really feels good about his future given his mild status. After the visit and sad farewell, we realize this could be our last time seeing him. He told us to keep in touch and it was a tough moment. This surgeon has done so much for us, given our son fingers... allowed him to have the best aesthetic and function possible. Eternally grateful and certainly worth the big out of pocket expense. Then it was time to honor and give back. I went to the blood bank at the hospital to donate blood in honor of Sam's cousin Ariel who was in a horrible accident and relied on the kindness of strangers whose 70 units of blood donated helped keep him alive. I left a note on the wall and those reading this blog I urge you to follow the message. The note read, "a tribute to Ariel Fishman...an unfortunate accident, Ariel needed kindness of strangers. He received 70 units of blood. 70 people saved his life. Let's save peoples' lives...Give blood, help those in need." It is so easy if you can, please take the 30 min to do so. Upon my return we took Jake downstairs with us to eat a quick dinner before returning to the room. Understandably, Jake did not want to return to the room, so four last times later we resisted and settled in. Jake was really agitated and threw an out of character fit. He hasn't slept much and is unsettled so it took some patience but we got him to calm down. It's quiet in 714B now so lets hope it stays that way and we discharge and can return home closing the book on the Boston surgeries for now.