ENT Update and the week ahead

Today was the first of many appointments this week at Duke for Kyleigh. The morning started out very stressful as I was running behind schedule with getting myself and the girls ready and on the road. However, we made it to Duke on time but spent 10 minutes searching for a spot in the parking garage----grrrr. Anyways, we were late to the appointment but luckily they took us on back anyways. She saw the ENT doctor today because we ended up on oral antibiotics and new ear drops from the pediatrician due to an ear infection in the left ear. Dr. Kaylie (ENT) wanted to recheck her ear today. The right ear still looks picture perfect. The left ear is no longer infected but still has a blood clot blocking the tube from functioning properly. We are to continue the ear drops in hopes that it will help release the blood clot. However, Dr. Kaylie is prepared that we may have to replace this tube in the near future. He said it can be done at the same time as her cleft palate repair but that could mean more ear infections until then. Otherwise we would have to do another round of anesthesia separate and they frown upon having to put her under too many times unless absolutely necessary. Since we return on Wednesday to Duke for the Cleft Palate Review team to set a date for surgery and he serves on this team, a decision will be made as to whether a separate surgical procedure is necessary of if it can wait until cleft palate repair. Wednesday is the long day of appointments as each specialists that has a role in her recovery and surgery will be present to review her progress and growth on this day. We report to Duke at 8:45 am and will be there most of the day. Then we return on Thursday for her to have her eyes rechecked to make sure the new eye drop is continuing to maintain her pressure at an appropriate level.

Needless to say this is a stressful week. I am so thankful it is still summer break and I am not having to deal with working and appointments at the same time. However, it doesn't change the fact that we are spending more time in the car this week and at Duke than we are enjoying summer days. Today I met a stranger while at Duke that helped make the stress of today melt away. Her name is Marie and she was just an ordinary lady there for a follow-up at Duke and was using the restroom at the same time we were. However, she could sense the stress level I was under evidently with 2 small children and she offered to help Kaitlyn wash her hands. Before that another lady gave up her spot in line to allow Kaitlyn to potty first (how sweet was that!). Then Marie not only helped Kaitlyn wash her hands but she also offered to help me to the car because she was heading to the parking garage anyways and she said it looked like I could use another pair of hands to push the stroller. I wasn't weirded out by her offer as I usually would have been. Instead I graciously accepted the offer at this point and we talked to the car about her being a teacher and mother. She was so nice. She asked where we lived and then offered to give us a place to rest if we needed on our many trips back and forth to Duke. She proceeded to write down her contact information and told me she was serious about the offer and wanted me to know that she just felt strongly it was the right thing to do today. How awesome was that. It was as if God sent me a little piece of happiness in the form of a stranger to help lighten my load. Sometimes I think I'm super woman and I can handle it all by myself. Today, I was handling it just fine I thought but it was so nice to have a moment of help from a complete stranger. There are still nice people in this world.

Please continue to keep Kyleigh in your prayers.