June 12, 2010 to June 22, 2010 – Surgery Scheduled

After many phone calls and messages back and forth with Dr. Ciricillo’s office, we were able to find out that Katelynn is going to be admitted to the hospital this Friday, June 25^th, for an operation to relieve the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in her fourth ventricle.  It has been a little difficult to be hanging on the edge, waiting for the surgery to be scheduled.  Dr. Ciricillo is renowned in his field of pediatric neurosurgery, and getting on his calendar with a date that is also suitable with the Anesthesia department can be a challenge in itself.  Apparently, there has been a cancellation, so the opportunity arose for us to schedule Katelynn much sooner than the anticipated delay until mid-July.

Jenn-Jen and I are now anxiously waiting to hear back directly from the doctor, as I have specific questions relating to the operation he is seeking to perform.  I know that he wishes to proceed with the less-invasive endoscopic procedure, which will equate to a shorter recovery time in the hospital for Katelynn.  If all goes well, we anticipate being able to bring home my daughter within two to three days.  In my personal research, I was able to locate an abstract from the Journal of Neurosurgery (http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/ped.2005.103.5.0388) for a surgical treatment called an “endoscopic cerebral aqueductoplasty” with a fourth ventricular approach.  When I do receive the return call from Dr. Ciricillo, I would like to find out his thoughts on this research and see if this is the surgery Katelynn will undergo.

Sitting here in my home office, I find myself battling the old and familiar demons of fear and doubt that have not stepped through my doors the past two years.  Deep inside I knew that Katelynn’s shunt revision in June of 2008 would not be the last time she would require the services of a neurosurgeon, but it still leaves me very unsettled that this is happening again so soon.  I know that it is through times such as these that I am to lean on my faith in God, in which He calls me to trust and follow daily.  Yet I have to admit that it is so difficult to fully let go and believe that all will be well.  What is to come in less than three days honestly scares me, but I also know it must be done.