Above is a picture of me getting "wheeled" out of the hospital. Been taking it easy at home all weekend. Again, I'd rather go home and recover ... even though I still feel bad and hurt, I'd rather be at home than the hospital. I even got to catch up on some of my favorite shows -- iCarly, Taylor Swift videos, etc.
Love & Laughs!
-Syd
Here is a picture of Sydney right before she went back for her 8th back surgery. We are back at home now recovering and everything has been okay, except she has been a little sick -- we think it's just her body still coming off of some of the anesthesia and that she still is taking some pain medication (which may have caused the nausea).
Anyways, she is finally asleep and will get some much needed rest.
Thank you again to everyone for the comments, emails, phone calls, visits at the hospital & the house!!!
HUGS!
-A4
Sydney is back home now. She was the first case this morning and she was recovering well enough that we were able to go home. Sydney herself was actually asking to go home and NOT stay in the hospital.
We think the whole allure of staying in the children's hospital has kind of worn off for her. Sydney would rather rest and recover in the comforts of home. Don't get me wrong, the children's hospital is SUCH a great place. They have been so wonderful to Sydney and us during our stays. Also, being at home just reduces the chance for Sydney to catch a cold or worse the H1N1 ... there is so much signage regarding sicknesses and coughing, that we think it's best that if Sydney is able to be at home to recover than possibly expose her to anything at the hospital.
ㄣɐ-
`ǝʌol
˙lol ˙ƃuıʇıɹʍ uʍop ǝpısdn sıɥʇ pɐǝɹ uɐɔ noʎ ǝdoɥ
˙ʇɥƃıupıɯ ɹǝʇɟɐ ʇɐǝ ʇ,uɐɔ ǝɥs ǝsnɐɔǝq `ɹǝɥ uı pooɟ ǝɯos ʇǝƃ oʇ ƃuıoƃ ǝɹ,ǝʍ oslɐ ˙˙˙ sʇuɐʍ ǝɥs sɐ ǝʇɐl sɐ dn ʎɐʇs oʇ ƃuıoƃ sı ǝɥs ˙ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ǝɥʇ uo ƃuıʎɐld puɐ dnǝʞɐɯ uo ƃuıʇʇnd puɐ ɟɟo ƃuıɟooƃ sı ʎǝupʎs
Today was Sydney's pre-op appointment with her surgeon. Above are the latest x-rays ... you can see the new device that was inserted at her last surgery. This is actually a "generation 2" device. The biggest difference is that this device attaches to two different ribs (you can see the two loops in the TOP photo)... her first device only went around one rib.
Our precious little ANGEL! It is sometimes SO HARD to look at these x-rays and actually "see" her curvature. Sydney is SUCH a trooper -- a lot of folks look at her and can't even tell that anything is even wrong. She has such an amazing spirit for someone who has gone through 8 back surgeries. She plays and acts like other little girls her age, but she is so limited is what she can and can't do. We can't even begin to imagine the daily pain she endures. She is truly an inspiration to us and we can't help but SMILE the way she touches our lives and others around us.
Thanks for checking her blog! Until next time ...
-A4
Have you been naughty or nice?!? Here is Santa and me ... I'm number one on HIS list!
Well, only just a couple more days until the next surgery. We have one more pre-op appointment this week with her surgeon. We hope that Sydney stays healthy and that her lungs stay clear (she also has asthma) for the surgery.
It was a pretty laid back day for Sydney ... as it will be the rest of the week. Just trying to keep her in a little bit of a 'quarantine' until her surgery.
Thanks for your comments. Sydney says, "HELLO!"
-A4
We hope that everyone had a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving!
We have so much to be thankful for: We're thankful for each and every one of your thoughts & prayers. We're thankful for ALL of the comments on the blog (we read each one with Sydney). We're thankful for the team of doctors, nurses and staff at both Nemours and Wolfson Children's Hospital, especially Dr. Loveless and Dr. Sapolsky.
We've got more pics to post soon ... until next time.
Smiles,
-A4
Please check out Sydney on the One to Grow on Ultra Marathon website:
http://www.wolfson55.org/sydney_aviles/index.html
Here is their homepage:
http://www.wolfson55.org/index.html
Thanks!
-A4
Hello everyone!
I know, I know ... it's been awhile. A LONG while at that. So sorry, but I hope to get everyone "up to speed" with some posts.
Above is a picture of Sydney with the ROAR cheerleaders at the Blue Angels event in town. We had an AMAZING time -- she got to meet and get the autographs of EACH of the Blue Angel pilots. They signed her little autograph book, but they also signed her back brace. A couple of the cheerleaders signed it as well.
T-minus less than 2 weeks until her next surgery. We've started to do all of her "pre-op" appointments ... her pediatrician actually said that this is the healthiest she's seen Sydney during this time of year. Yes, the mild weather does help -- but we hope and pray that she continues to stay healthy for this upcoming surgery.
Until next time ...
Love & Laughs,
-A4
Hey everyone!
Here is a picture of me right before my last surgery. I got my HAIR CUT ... can you believe it?!?!? My mom & dad say it looks "really good". I think I kinda like it. The BEST thing is when I get my hair brushed, it doesn't hurt ... not one BIT.
Well I'm back at home now and just taking it easy and trying to recover. I've had lots of phone calls, emails, gifts, etc. Thanks so much to everyone!!!
I'm feeling better, but obviously still recovering. I'll try to send out another post soon to keep everyone up-to-date.
Love-n-laughs,
-Syd
We saw Sydney's doctor and we knew what he was going to say before he even opened his mouth -- "Sydney's needs to have surgery". She is supposed to go in on Friday, which also happens to be her birthday. She was quite upset when we told her -- not sure if it was because of the surgery OR because she wouldn't be able to have a party on her special day. We'll have to postpone any party plans for a future date.
She is supposed to see an anesthesiologist tomorrow, but not for certain.
Please keep Sydney (and us) in your thoughts and prayers!
Love & Laughs,
-A4
The picture above is what the top portion (the superior cradle) of the device is supposed to do. You can see that the device is supposed to encircle the rib ... well Sydney's implant has broken through the rib.
We see her back surgeon tomorrow morning and we're anxious to see what his prognosis is going to be. We think she will have to have another surgery to get the device back onto another rib and to also possibly fix the broken rib that she currently has.
Wish us luck. We'll keep everyone posted.
Take care,
-A4
Hey everyone!
Just wanted to write a quick update on Sydney. She's had a pretty good weekend ... still has her bouts of pain, but otherwise doing okay.
We've been letting her just take it really easy and trying to keep it pretty "low key". We are wanting her to get her rest, so she has really slept in on both days.
Thanks for all of the friends that have come by to see her. And even more thanks for the all of the gifts. They have definitely helped take her mind off of the pain for a bit and have helped brighten her day.
I guess that's all for now -- we'll keep everyone posted soon.
Take care,
-A4
Sydney and Karen are back at home from the emergency room. Sydney had a lot of nausea & vomiting this evening. She was very lethargic, her eyes were swollen and seemed pretty unresponsive. Thank god auntie Carole was there to help at the house & at the hospital.
She had a vasovagal response (nausea, vomiting, could even have seizures, etc.) to the pain from the failed device in her back. She is at home, but she is still not feeling too well. Please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Pray that Sydney will start to feel better. She has been through SO MUCH already ... as a parent you just wish you could take away ALL of the pain.
In Christ's Love,
-A4
Just wanted to re-cap the last couple of days for everyone ...
On Saturday morning, Sydney's bar "failed". It broke through the two ribs at the top portion of the device. The bottom part of the device is screwed into two lumber vertebrae. There is a prominent "bump" on the upper right part of Sydney's back. She is obviously in a lot of pain, but also does have her good moments. To top in all off, her back surgeon is out of the country until next week. We did see another doctor at his office, but said that he really couldn't do anything and that we would have to wait until her doctor comes in next week.
Also her asthma has been acting up, so we went to see her pediatrician and got some steroids to help with the coughing & wheezing (which obviously made the pain worse).
Until next time,
-A4
