Tympanoplasty/Mastiodectomy Surgery!

Okay, so finally, time to update about Hollister's ear. Hamilton is home sick today and I am making it a productive day. Organizing, cleaning, grading, TLC for my little one, and yes, blogging. Right now I have given TLC and blogged. (and Hamilton is alseep)We'll see how the rest of the day goes....

So, Hollister has had ear issues for years. He had a set of tubes in 2009. His tonsils and adenoids out as well. Since then though, he has continuously had ear problems with his left ear. Trevor noticed in the summer that he wasn't hearing well from it. He took him to his regular ENT and was sent to an ear specialist. There are only 2 in Austin. Immediately he was able to diagnosis Hollister with a Cholesteatoma. It's not a tumor, but it is tumor like. It grows VERY slowly and has to be removed surgically. A cholesteatoma (sometimes called a keratoma) is an abnormal growth of squamous epithelium in the middle ear and mastoid. (That is the medical definition.)

He sent us for a CT scan to see the size and the origin.

The appt after that was the toughest one. Trevor had to do it alone. Looking back now I am not sure how he even did it. The mass was determined to be congenital. Congenital cholesteatoma — The classic definition of a congenital cholesteatoma is a cholesteatoma that develops behind an intact tympanic membrane in a child with no history of middle ear disease. However, since most children have some history of middle ear disease during infancy, cholesteatomas are considered to be congenital if they occur in children who have an intact TM and no history of ear surgery

It was also the largest the Dr. had ever seen, especially at 5 years old. He immediately said Hollister did not have hearing in that ear. Trevor was convinced he did so they did another hearing test and he did. But, Dr. Kemper was very clear that after the surgery he would have none. Hollister would be undergoing a three hour surgery and then go through the same thing about 4 months later. The CT scan also showed he has a small one in the right ear. Yes, it will have to be removed as well. Possibly 2 surgeries on that side. That is his "good ear" though. That is the one he hears from! The diagnosis was devastating to us as parents. The surgery would be in about a week and a half and honestly folks, we were basket cases!

Hollister is aware of what is going on. Trevor has done a great job explaining things to him. He is such a trooper!

The night before the surgery, he received this package from my mom. It's a frog with a doctors kit so he cold take care of him like the doctors and nurses would for him. He loved it! It was perfect and he even took it with him to the hospital. The frog went into surgery with him too!

The surgery was for 11:00 so we didn't have to go super early. The surgery was at Dell Children's hospital in Austin. I can't say enough of how wonderful the experience was for us. Hollister could only have jello and clear liquids before we left. He was such a good sport about that. We didn't have to wait long, we were taken back and changed into his PJ's. Waiting was actually fun for Hollister. They have toys all of kinds and no rules! Seriously, they just let kids be kids!
The hospital sent an employee to see Hollister and explain what was going to happen. She was awesome! She had pictures and real items for his to touch. She let him chose his anesthesia flavor, showed him the IV, everything. It was really great!

Then he played and played!

He even got to race other kids there!

His Dr. came in and spoke with us, as well as the anesthesiologist and several nurses. Everything was explained over and over. Dr. Kemper marked the ear and he was pretty much ready to go!
Parents are allowed to go back as far as the "stop" sign. He was even able to ride back in the toy of his choice. He took the red scooter, his blanket and his frog. At this point, we lost it, but thank goodness not in front of him. He was "brave and super cute". (Words from the nurses in the OR.) Of course, the worst part was waiting. We knew we had 3 hours or longer.... I feel for the most part we handled it well. Seeing the other kids at Dell, well... its all about perspective. Hollister may lose hearing in one ear, but nothing else really changes. We know we are blessed. After several hours we are called back to speak with the DR and he tells us how he feels things went. We know he will have to go back again. We know it was really big and its not all out. We know his facial nerve was not effected, even though this mass was attached to it. The Dr. will do a hearing test in a few weeks and then we'll know more. For now, he heals.

A few minutes later we finally are taken back to recovery and just seeing Hollister makes everything alright.

He woke up upset and in some pain. They made him comfortable. He had several issues with nausea from the medicine and his equilibrium was off. He had been under for 3 hours, all of these side effects were expected. We attempted to go home at one point, but only made it to the front door. We had to go back and get a nausea pill. He was such a good boy and handled it all so well. And Trevor, well, he handled throw up twice and that is AMAZING! You know, you do just about anything for your kids!

Hollister was on pain meds all night. There was no reason for him to be uncomfortable so we woke him up every 4 hours. He slept well and even slept on the left side. He had his head bandaged for 24 hours. We were very cautious because it took about 48 hours for him to get his balance back. This is where the incision was made. This is where all the incisions will be made. Eventually it will not be noticeable. When he saw it, he cried. It was very sad. But he does understand why. By Monday, he was showing his friends at school.
He has a follow up check up next week, but we may not know about hearing until a few weeks after that. It all depends on his healing. As for now, we know the next year for us will full of a few more of these procedures.