Nothing Like Your Own Bed

We were able to take Trent outside to enjoy the lovely weather on Saturday. His pain level was tolerable and his leg only hurt when it was moved.



On Saturday evening my parents brought our other children to the hospital to visit Trent. It was nice to be all together as a family, even if for only a short time.

We were all very tired and eager to go to sleep. And so we tried. I have a new sympathy for parents with children in the hospital. I knew it was hard, but now I had a taste first hand.

Trent's room was tiny though we loved that he was at the end of a quiet hall. During the night Ed and I took turns staying with him on the recliner by his bed. Just down the hall was the NICU department which had a family room sponsored by the Ronald McDonald House. We were able to freely use this facility which was nice. It gave us a quiet dark place to rest that wasn't interrupted by nurses. But if several exhausted parents collapse on couches in a small room, you are bound to have one snorer. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, I'd recommend bringing earplugs. It was a long night.

We had to be up early Sunday morning to get Trent ready for his second surgery. But this was Sunday, and nothing was prompt. He didn't go into surgery until nearly 9:00. We were impressed with the doctors and other staff that we interacted with at Hershey. Trent's orthopedic surgeon had called in a plastic surgeon to help. If the skin could not be closed, he would do a skin graft.

But thankfully the swelling had decreased and they were able to close the wound without any grafting. When the surgeon showed us a picture of Trent's knee after surgery I was shocked that he was able to close the wound so well. I almost thought he had showed us the wrong photo. Trent will always have a battle scar and he'll have to be in a brace for a few weeks while it heals, but once again, we are grateful it is no worse.

Here is the before and after views. (Scroll fast if you are squeamish.)

Trent is able to walk without crutches. He has very little pain, just some achiness. It seems almost miraculous that the same boy on morphine on Friday is today smiling and walking without pain. I think it might be hard to make him take it easy these next weeks.



And the best part...the surgeon gave us permission to go home. We had a few more hours of waiting for meds and paperwork on Sunday afternoon, but we were back to our own house soon after 6:00 last night.

And our own beds felt so good.

Thanks so much for holding our family up to God in prayer.