A story about stitches…
Comments (0) Finn was born with a hairless quarter-sized birth mark above his left ear. When he was about 8months old, our family doctor referred him to see a Pediatric Dermatologist to look at it, who recommended surgery to remove the birth mark in the next few months, as the possible complications with this type of skin lesion as he grows older- well let’s not go there… The birthmark is called Nevus Sebaceous of Jadassohn (sounds kind of like the name of some Medieval Knight, don’t you think?). In July we met with the Surgeon and have been on the wait list for surgery since then (for this kind of non-life-threatening surgery, it can take a few months. No worries, I consider that an occasional side-effect of the Socialized Health Care system- of which I am a HUGE fan.) So a couple weeks ago we got the call they had an opening and so TODAY was the DAY!
I intentionally didn’t allow myself to think about it too much, as I have a tendency to get worked up. I just ‘forgot’ to think about it. Until last night, which found me awake around 2pm unsuccessfully counting sheep and hoping to sleep… then for no explainable reason, Finn decided he’d join in the counting project around 4am. I brought him into our bed and for the next couple hours we laid there side by side (Dustin made the right choice and slept on the couch) giving butterfly kisses, giggling, and me ‘insisting’ we have to sleep(!).
When we arrived at 6:30am at the hospital we were a little sleepy (and hungry!), but managed to giggle and play our way through the next hour and half of waiting around. I was so proud of how well he held up under such unusual circumstance – he didn’t even seem concerned that he was running around in a little white hospital gown and stocking feet. While we waited, we got to meet all the team that would work on him, so we had familiar faces when we were finally ushered into the Operating Room. I got to hold him while he was put under anesthesia, which gave me a little heart stopping moment as a mama. It was just so eerie having him just pass out like that. I managed to hold it together really well until after I left the room- I gave myself a couple of minutes of sobbing in the bathroom, then got myself together and was ready to hang out and wait with the other parents, many whose children were there for surgery dealing with much more difficult circumstances. I realize how truly blessed we are as a family, given the kinds of things other families are dealing with in this world.
It took about an hour for the procedure, and then I got to go be with him as he came around. He groggily sucked down a little juice, then promptly fell back asleep for a very restful nap in my arms for about an hour. It was mama-heaven to just hold that little guy and oogle over his long eye-lashes and adorable lips while he slept. I mean, how often do we get to take that kind of time with those we love and adore to just stare and think about their wonderfulness? I highly recommend it. (Although, perhaps under different circumstances, cause honestly no-one looks that great in the fluorescent light of the hospital.)
He was just a total champ, waiting around before the surgery in his little gown and socks (did I say hour cute that was?!), just smiling, waving, and yelling “HI!” at anyone who would look his way- his new favourite word is “HI!” since he’s realized that it gets a response from just about anyone he shouts it at! 
All the nurses and docs just cooed over him, and I felt that we were really well taken care of by everyone that we encountered.
We were discharged out the door and on our way home by 10:30am! Finn spent the rest of the day playing as if nothing happened. (But I had to have a 2 hour nap.)
Post surgery, he has now a long stitched up seam where they cut out the lesion and sewed his scalp together (TMI?), and that will just turn into a thin scar that will just blend in with his hair line- when his hair eventually grows in.
And that’s my story about Canada’s Universal Health Care, yo.
Finn Post Op, the little CHAMP!
Themocracy