Saige's Otoplasty

Saige, Cody and I arrived at the Utah Surgical Center in Salt Lake City at 7am on Monday morning, July 16th! Saige was extatic to watch Nemo, Marlin, Dori and others in their big aquarium, kinda helped distract all of us while we waited, though Saige seemed the bravest of us all.

Check out Saige's fancy surgery hair that we did the night before. Dr. Mobley requested that we do her hair in such a way that it wasn't by her ears or behind her head. So I got busy, figuring that it would be a few days before we could wash it and I didn't want it to be in the way at ALL for days. Dr. Mobley was impressed and said that we set the bar for presurgery hair. She got TONS of compliments on her hair!

After changing into her Bugs Bunny hospital gown, getting her fancy socks and cap the nervousness set in. Though she had Ariel tightly in her grasp, nothing can totally take away feelings of uncertainty, especially for Saige's daddy and mommy too.

Everyone at the surgery center were especially kind and informative and helpful. Saige seemed pretty confidant overall and was super responsive and happy. She was especially all smiles after her nurse gave her a new tiny stuffed monkey, who she promptly named "Banana Fruit-roll-up".

When we talked with Dr. Mobley before the surgery he talked with us about the procedure and answered any questions we had. He talked with Saige and asked her why she wanted to get this surgery done? She said because she didn't want her ears to look like an elephants! He asked her who made her feel that way, and she said that she just thinks that herself. (I am so grateful for compassionate and sweet people in her life that have always made her feel loved and beautiful!) He assured her that they didn't look like an elephants and that she looked like a princess! We told him that we knew he was the very best at what he does and we totally trusted him with Saige!

After a few hours of anxiously worrying and waiting, we talked with Dr. Mobley after the surgery while Saige was still in the first stages of recovery. He said she was an absolute ANGEL! That talking with her before she went under was a pleasure and that she was just so sweet. Then it was like operating on an angel and that everything went very well! We were so relieved! We are so GRATEFUL to Dr. Mobley and his talent, expertise and generosity! Even the recovery nurses also commented on what an ANGEL Saige was! I don't doubt it for a second...She is an absolute angel to us!! We were so relieved to see her!!

I kept waiting for Saige to say funny things, still loopy from the anaesthesia, but she just sweetly commented on things or asked questions. The most memorable was "I miss Kaeda!" and she had a discussion about how she wanted to not name our new puppy "Daisy Jade" because "Jade" was too much like "Jaden" and said maybe just "Daisy" or "Daisy Marley" because Cody likes the name "Marley". Such a sweet little girl!

Saige was excited to go for a ride in the wheelchair! She wondered if we could take it home and keep wheeling her around? More as fun rather than a necessity.

Still a little sleepy on her first post-op ride. I rode in the back with her to stabilize her head from hitting her ears on her car seat pads. 

We went to our friends, Curtis and Leslie Christensens condo in SLC for a couple of days for Saige to rest and recover. Her daddy was right by her side for most of that first day. She napped and watched movies, but her favorite thing was to work on all of the fun activity books she brought along or was given by her friend Brynlee before we left for surgery. Their home was so comfortable and quiet and exactly what we needed to be able to focus on Saige, as Kaeda and Ridge were with Aunt Cando and Grandma and Grandpa. We were so grateful for the Christensens generosity and accommodations and for everyone taking care of things back home AND mostly for eveyones thoughts and prayers!!! 

After the meds all wore off...Saige was actually pretty ready for action, being the busy girl that she is. Thanks goodness for Ralph. He was suck good THERAPY for all of us! Saige was always wanting to play with him or go for walks or just have him hang out beside her while she did a word search. We took several little walks with Ralph. :) I couldn't believe how incredibly well she was doing...she wanted to RUN! It was a challenge to try to keep her down.

Day 2: Of course it couldn't always be rosy. After walking Ralph, reading, coloring, word searches, and doing her nails...Saige was not really in pain, really no significant pain ever, but uncomfortable. Her new HAT was tight and itchy, especially around her neck. She kept pulling it up over her lips to easy the irritation. I think this moment she was a little overwhelmed with the fact that her ears would never be the same again and feeling a bit homesick, especially after her dad left that morning to go back to work.

Truthfully, though we would never undo the procedure, I think a bunch of us were mourning the change. Just because we all LOVED Saige just the way she was and I adored her little ears! Change is always a little scary, even if we desire the change! Saige was really looking forward at this moment to have this part behind her.

Then a much needed 3 hour nap! I was so happy to see her rest so peacefully and could almost feel the healing take place as Ralph and I both watched over her all afternoon. 

Saige awoke so peaceful. Excited to be with Ralph again, to eat a little dinner and settle in with some serious Lalaloopsy videos and creating a wishlist before crashing again for another peaceful night. 

On our last morning in SLC, Saige didn't want to say goodbye to Ralph, he was so good to her! But we took him for another walk and packed up all of our things, so grateful for a peaceful stay to allow Saige to rest and recover. She was a great patient! She was actually pretty low maitanance, but I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to just FOCUS on her alone.