When we adopted Isaac we knew that surgeries would be part of our lives for a while to help repair the effects of his cleft pallet. His pallet has been repaired and he has ad numerous ear surgeries. At his last check up the Dr. did determine that he would need another surgery to help him close the airway between his nasal passage and his throat. This is a necessary function when trying to make most consonant sounds. He can currently only close the flap if he is holding his nose.
The surgery, commonly known as the flap surgery, will be on November 30th. It will basically make a bridge from the back of his pallet to the back of his through making it where there will be two openings on each side of the bridge. He should be able to muscularly close those openings to make most sounds after the surgery.
He will have to spend one night at the hospital and the said he will be needing pain management for 2-10 days after the surgery. This is all fine with me, and he is a trooper and will handle this part OK. Where I am worries is the food limitations afterwards. He will only be able to have mushy food for 30 days after the operation. Withholding food or creating situations where Isaac is hungry is dangerous business for a child who personally knows the depth of hunger. I need to make lots of rice pudding, hard boiled eggs, and fortunately I have a cubbord of homemade apple sauce.
All issues aside, I must remember to be so thankful that we live in a time wheret this can be fixed, that I am one of the fortunate few who have insurance that can help us and that most importantly Isaac has a family who will unconditionaly love him through this process. These are all gifts that saddly not all are afforded. So yes there will be pain and tears and hunger, but their will also be clarity, healing, love and creative mushy meals.
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