Surgery Update

Well, it has taken me a while to actually sit down and type out a post regarding MG's surgery follow-up.

We had our follow up appointment with Dr. Buckmiller on May 16.   Her nose has healed beautifully.  Dr. Buckmiller was very pleased.

At this point ... WE ARE SURGERY FREE !!!!   We have NO surgeries scheduled in the next couple of YEARS !   YIPPEE !!  Now there is a catch to this.  Right now, speech wise, MG can make every consonant sound with prompting.   She appears to be losing air only on the "s" and "sh" sounds ... which makes sense since there are 2 openings in her gumline.   As long as her speech continues to develop appropriately, she will not need a palate lengthening surgery.   The palate lengthening surgery, also referred to as a P-Flap surgery is sometimes necessary to help her palate close off properly to prevent air escaping from her nose resulting in hypernasal sounds.   If her speech continues to develop as is, we will avoid the p-flap.   She will have to have a nasal scope at some point to actually physically observe how the palate functions.  That will be next spring most likely.   She has to be cooperative and actually talk during the procedure so that the doctor can observe her palate function.   Right now, that AIN't gonna happen.   MG won't even say hello when she is with the doctor !

As far as speech goes, we are FINALLY getting the plosives ... "p" and "b" regularly in the middle of words and sometimes at the beginning.   That is good, because  we no longer have to constantly prompt her to make these sounds.   Sometimes, we get "d" and "t", but not nearly as regular as the "p" and "b".

As far as surgeries go, right now the next step in our plan will be the gumline closure.   That will possibly involve palate expanders, and will definately involve a bone graft to close the gumline.   We can't have this surgery until her permanent teeth are in place and her baby teeth are all gone.  So we are looking at perhaps 7-8 years old before the next phase of surgeries.

Her lip and nose are in great condition.  The scaring is fading every day.   Her little nose is so cute!

This last appointment was a big one for us.   It was the last time we will see Dr. Buckmiller.   She is moving to San Antonio, TX.   At least she is close enough we can follow her if need be ... but right now the plan is to stay here at AR Children's Hospital.  Dr. Larry Hartzell will take over MG's case.   Dr. Hartzell has seen MG at every appointment since our very first visit in July 2010.   He knows her case, and from what I hear from various hospital staff members, he too is an extremely gifted surgeon.   I am confident in his abilities, and look forward to working with him.

We have a follow-up appointment in January 2013, simply because MG does not have tubes in her ears right now.  She seems to maintain a little fluid behind her eardrums.   Dr. Buckmiller doesn't want her to go thru the cold and flu season without being closely watched since cleft kids seem to have problems with chronic ear infections.   Knock on wood, MG has only had 1 ear infection in 2 years ... and that was WITH tubes.  Her pediatrician thought her tubes had come out ... turns out that they were in place, just completely encrusted with Chinese ear wax.   Chinese kids tend to make really dry flaky ear wax that is extremely difficult to remove.   Dr. Buckmiller removed the tubes from her ears during the April 2012 surgery.   We will watch her closely, because anything that interferes with her hearing abilities can affect her speech.

We will go to AR Children's again in May 2013 to meet with the entire cleft team ... speech, hearing, surgeon, dentist, plastic surgeon, etc., to develop our official treatment plan from this point forward.

Pray that her speech continues to develop well.   Her speech therapist is starting to see some fairly dramatic improvements ... and so are we at home.   MG is working really hard in speech, and it is starting to really pay off.