Surgery #5

Today Hudson has the dreaded p-flap surgery.  We have done all we can do in the way of testing and 2nd opinions to rule this one out but since his sleep study determined he had no sleep apnea due to obstruction (although he wakes up 69.9 times a night) and his scope determined he has NO movement of palate walls (which he needs) this is the best surgery to give him a chance at making the sounds he cannot make and take away his hypernasal speech.     The biggest fear with this sugery is creating sleep apnea as the flap is made by actually creating an obstruction in the back of the throat (or soft palate).  The uvula that hangs down in the back of our throats is there only for speech and kids with cleft palates obviously do not have this.  They typically have shorter palates also and this is a way to lengthen that palate.  There is debate over if this surgery is out of date as there are newer techniques but we know we have one of the top surgeons in the country and have been told by other surgeons that this is the best surgery for lack of speech like Hudson's.  One of the risks of this surgery is the obstruction created leads to such severe apnea that it has to be "undone".  That would be devastating as it creates scar tissue and good, flexible tissue is crucial to further surgeries and successful speech.    We know Hudson has very small nasal passages and already has trouble getting good airflow through his nose.  His tonsillectomy last winter was to make room for this very surgery as his tonsils were HUGE.  His sleep and breathing has been much better since then so we are hoping this does not cause him to take a step backward in that area.

As with every surgery (and this is his 5th, his fourth here as he had one in China) we are nervous more so for the recovery.  It is SO hard to see our kids in pain.  He had such a hard time with his breathing coming out of surgery with his palate repair/rhinoplasty/lip revision but was in surgery quite a bit longer than today's surgery is predicted to be so we hope it won't be an issue this time.    He is also a bit nervous for this surgery.  He is old enough to know a little bit of what is going on and knows he will have pain so that adds a new element.   We are confident knowing he has total trust in us now and we are who he looks to for comfort so that is reassuring.

Please pray for a SUCCESSFUL surgery.  I have been told by others they heard differences in speech immediately so we are excited for the chance that this will give Hudson at "normal" speech.  He can be understood pretty well but also has a huge chance for improvement.   A quick recovery, minimal pain and NO apnea are also requests.  They are taking a few more precautions with him as his epilepsy is sleep induced so his flap will not be quite as large as some in hopes of not contributing to any siezures.  He may have to have some "revisions" to it as he grows but we are confident the Lord can give him clear speech with this one surgery.

We did reach a milestone last week that is so sweet for us.  Hudson has now been with us longer than he had been without us.....stil pinching ourselves!!!
Thanks for your prayers!!