I have been dreading this day for 9 months... Our daughter having surgery. I did not hide anything from Khloe. I told her everything that she could expect. I told her all about the surgery and how she would be put to sleep and the doctor would "fix" the inside of her mouth... Which would help her say her s's and other sounds. I even told her that she wouldn't be able to eat solid foods for a couple weeks after her surgery! She was a trooper and understood.
Khloe already had oral surgery at the hospital when she was 2 years old (a 2 hour surgery while under anesthesia). But, this particular surgery was for a form of cleft palate (interior, not exterior) - called Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI). VPI is a condition when the velopharyngeal sphincter (soft palate muscle in the mouth) does not form properly and are angled in the wrong direction... causing muscles in the palate to not fully close during speech, allowing air to escape the nose rather than the mouth (which, also, caused her fluids to come out of her nose when she was an infant ... and several of her letters pronounced through her nose, rather than her mouth).
Khloe was fortunate to have her surgery at the amazing Arkansas Children's Hospital. This children's hospital happens to have the best cleft unit in the country... So she was certainly at the right place and in good hands from the start. The procedure performed (to correct Khloe's VPI) was called Furlow Palatoplasty - it is cutting the abnormally positioned muscles in the palate of her mouth and repositioning them to a more normal position (enabling the palate to function properly and close completely going forward). She shouldn't have any speech issues when she is fully healed... However, she will have to continue speech therapy to re-train herself how to say many of her constanent and vowel sounds the correct way... since now her muscles will allow her to do so. She has trained herself over the years to substitute her s's, th's, x's, z', f's and several other sounds that sound similar. Smart girl, but we will have to get these improper pronunciations corrected with the proper pronunciations!
I have been nauseated and scared to death about her surgery! Yesterday, before her surgery, was the hardest!! I had severe anxiety (to the point where I couldn't breathe!). I have shed many tears over the months about it... I know God is our salvation and is a good God! So, deep down, I knew God would heal her and protect her... Keeping her safe and protected! But, as a mother, your mind tends to think of all the "what ifs "... It's only natural. God is good and he delivered, indeed! Thank you, God!
Now, we have to work hard on her recovery and making sure she is healing properly. She has a 2-3 week recovery period. She cannot eat any foods for two weeks. She can only drink fluids (nothing acidic) for the first 3 days, though. After that, only blended fruits and foods - must be liquified. Soft foods will come into play in about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. Palate repair is a very tedious process... And procedure. So, everything must be exactly right! Khloe is currently on pain medications and antibiotics. The drive home is not going to be fun... Poor baby!
Here is Khloe before her surgery (outside the Children's Hospital):
Here is Khloe being strong Pre-Op: Waiting for doctor to arrive...
Here is Khloe Post-Surgery (a success!)...
Khloe coloring the next day in her hospital room...
A very special shout out to our friends, Todd and Amy... They let us stay in the guest house at their home several nights before and during Khloe's surgery! They are the sweetest and Khloe adores their boys (who are her age)! Amy and the boys came to visit Khloe after her surgery... Bringing her balloons, cookies and gifts!! Such a blessing to have special friends like them!
I will keep you posted on her recovery and how she is doing. Thank you to all our friends and family for you thoughts and prayers! She pulled through like a breeze! XO
