Parker Procedure Update

Friday was another early morning for Parker and I at Boys Town. We've been on a routine of meds for his EE for several months (it's a little exhausting). The things with EE is you can't cure it, and there's no way to tell what it is that makes it worse or causes that allergic reaction. So that leaves us trying to find a medication regiment that will help alleviate those symptoms and make it easier for Parker to eat.

It's a drive but I absolutely love the West Boys Town hospital. It's a beautiful facility and the staff are absolutely wonderful. Parker and I got lucky and bumped up in the schedule by half an hour (Yay!) and things moved very quickly after we were admitted. Dr. Kunnath came in and we chatted, he played with Parker and sat on the bed to watch Mickey Mouse with him. I'm so grateful to have found a GI doctor this fantastic.

Once Parker was ready to roll, the Child Life Specialist came in and showed him the anesthesia mask, let him pick what color tape he wanted for his IV, and read a book with him. The in an effort to help Parker's giant tantrum I knew was coming when they took him back, she brought him a bubble gun. She told him to shoot bubbles at the doctors when they came in. He figured it out really quickly and started yelling "wook it!" to everyone that came in. They let him take it back to surgery with him, and he got to keep it until the moment we left. It made things a lot easier for him to go back to surgery.

Of course the anesthesiologist always comes in to talk before procedures. He came in and asked where he had had his previous major surgery (the fundo and g-button) at. When I responded it was at the Med Center, he immediately confirmed it had been with Dr. Abdessalam. When I said yes, he told me he had been in on that case and remembered us. He started saying details from the day (which I remember vividly), Parker's medical history, and us. I was floored. He gave me a very nice smile and said it was nice to see us again, it was a treat he doesn't usually have a chance at.

He carried Parker back to surgery in a blanket (holding the bubble gun) while singing him a song. 

He came back after the procedure to tell me everything had gone perfectly. He said "it's been a pleasure" when I got a big hug. When he walked out of the room he gave me a sweet smile, and I stood there stunned and started to cry a little. How lucky are we that the same sweet, gracious person can appear twice in life to help Parker - once to live, the other to thrive? (I still have tears thinking about it now). 

Parker's scope appeared normal. Now we wait for biopsy results - they took 6 samples - and a follow-up appointment with Dr. Hopp. Thanks for all for the prayers!