Gabe, the final update for tonight

Here's what's going on with my Gabe-O.

We got to the hospital at 6 am. Surgery began at 7:45 am. We saw him in post-op at around 6 pm. A long 12 hours let me tell ya.

It didn't go quite as we planned but he's OK and resting comfortably. Gabe's nerves and anxiety got the better of him this morning. He had a pretty difficult time finding the strength to go to the OR. So, his surgeon let me go with him. I put on my scrubs, complete with cap and booties, and walked Gabe into the OR. I got to stay until he fell asleep. It was hard to see but not to do. I kissed him, told him I love him and left to met Brian. I lost it. At that point, Gabe had the easy part. He was asleep and numb. Brian and I on the other hand waited and waited and waited. The surgery, which was supposed to take 5 hours lasted for 9.

There was also much more involved. Since doctors can't see every twist and turn until they open ya up, his doctor's time estimate was a little off.

So you're wondering what happened? He had the bladder neck reconstruction with mitrofanoff. His appendix is now attached as a tube to his bladder and his belly button to form the channel for intermittent cathaterization. His bladder sphinter muscle was tightened. His bladder neck was moved farther away from the bladder opening and lengthened by using tissue from his bladder. (his bladder is a little smaller now but is very health and will grow). His ureters were mislocated. So they were moved to a better location. Oh, and how could I forget, since his bladder neck is behind his pubic bone, that bone was cut down the middle and separated in order for the doc to get to the bladder neck. Gabe is now the proud owner of metal wires holding his pubic bone together. (I guess we'll find out how airport visits will go now.) Don't get me wrong here, the surgery went well and Gabe didn't have any problems at all. However, he currently has a NG tube (through his nose and into his belly), an epidural, 3 IVs and 6, ya 6, catheters. All 6 will be coming home with him for about a month.

Its been a long, awful day for us. But even though Gabe is a mess with wires and tubes, he is OK. As for Brian, he was wonderful today. He stayed strong while I fell apart. In return, I was strong when he fell apart. He's home with the grandmas, Jonah and Emelia. And me? Well, much much better. The surgery is done. Now I help him heal. I'm good at that part. I'm not nervous, anxious, worried or scared anymore. All that went away as soon as I saw him in post-op. All the tubes and wires didn't even shake me.