Okruhlik Twins: A New Plan for Jordan

So much has happened since the last post. We were praying for the blood supply to return to the original flap. It started looking a little better and I was getting my hopes up. When we went to see Dr. Harshbarger, he did not think he would be able to use the original flap. The part that lost the blood supply was not healing fast enough. He said that even if it heals more, the tissue would probably not be healthy enough to create a new nose. He discussed several options with us. He was leaning towards removing the old flap completely, stitching that side up, and creating a new flap on the other side of her forehead. Shannon and I were both disappointed.

Then they had to remove the gauze in her nose and some stitches from her head. That child is so brave. The gauze was stitched to the skin graft and when they pulled that out, we all knew it hurt her. She never fought them though, and I tried to hold her tight so she wouldn't be afraid. That was a very tough "mommy moment" for me. The stitches in her head came out fairly easy. After we left, Shannon and I agreed to go ahead with Dr. Harshbarger's plan. We were both ready for this to be over with.

After her appointment, the part that lost the blood supply was looking worse every day. On Saturday night part of the flap split open. I called Dr. Harshbarger on Sunday and he wasn't too concerned as long as the bleeding was under control.

Tuesday rolled around and we were off again to have her surgery. We checked in, they called us back and we were preparing for another flap to be done. When Dr. Harshbarger came in, he said he had a different idea. He said this idea came to him at home and that it was worth a try. Before he could get another word out, I almost fell out of my seat and I started praising God for sending him a new plan. Then I listened with tears in my eyes because what he was saying was so much better. He said that we could use part of the old flap to do a composite skin graft. Which means, he would take the skin and fat from the healthy part of the original flap and put it in her nose. He said it would not have a blood supply but there is a chance that this could work because it is such a small area. He is not a 100% sure this will work and doesn't know if this will be a long term fix for her, but it sounded great to me. Shannon had some questions for him, but we both agreed we should try to use what was there before he starts cutting on the other side of her head to make a new flap. We have had to make some pretty hard decisions for her, but I know they are all the right ones (because God had His hand in this).

Jordan made it through the surgery. She looks so much better but her mood was a different story. She did not have her spunk anymore. When she woke up, she stared right through me and didn't want to smile. She had enough!!! She was not in any pain but was just a different child than before. She stayed in that mood until this morning. We are at home and we are all better.

Our prayers now are that the skin graft takes. If it does, Dr. Harshbarger will put cartilage in her nose in about three to four weeks. It has been a long two weeks. Thanks to all of you that prayed for my family and most of all for Jordan. God does listen.

May 24, 2013

First Flap Part 1 Surgery