Apparently having a Cardiac Catheter Procedure is like
Christmas; or at least it seemed like that every time we mentioned to someone
that Riley was going in for it very soon. All the nurses and doctors would say
“You must be so excited!” with such enthusiasm you would think we were about to
be opening presents. Of course they say it like that not because they enjoy
putting children through painful procedures; but because they know that this is
the beginning of the end for our time in Brisbane. The Cardiac Catheter is used
to gather information for the next surgery and then it is planned to happen
shortly after. I must admit I did not share their enthusiasm. I had quite been
enjoying the “happy bubble” we were living in with our daughter because the past
couple of months had been complication free. We had been able to just live a
relatively normal life with her; taking her to Southbank for the afternoons,
introducing her to visitors from home and even getting to take her home every
night. I was not looking forward to our bubble being popped but there was no
avoiding it.
A few days before the procedure, I left Jess and Riley to go
to my sister’s wedding in Airlie Beach. We had both felt that Riley was doing
well enough that I could go and it wouldn’t be an issue. So I experienced my
first time being away from my daughter which turned out to be not as stressful
as I thought it would be. I thought I would be a nervous wreck checking in with
Jess every hour to see that Riley was still stable. Thankfully I was actually
pretty level-headed; that was until I needed to catch my flight home. If you
hadn’t heard; there was a cyclone heading along the coast and it just so
happened to be heading towards Airlie Beach. Oh joy. Virgin Airlines had
cancelled their flights for that day and my plane from Jetstar was tossing up whether they would follow suit. We were told it was on its way but if it couldn’t see the landing strip,
it would turn around and fly back to Brisbane. Needless to say my mind was
going into overdrive. I had a PLAN B and a PLAN C which consisted of getting a
rental car and driving to the nearest city to catch a flight or if that failed
I would drive that car all the way down the coast. No way was I going to miss
some quality time with Riley before her Cardiac Catheter. Thankfully Plan A
worked just fine. I got on the plane and made my way back home. Phew.
Tuesday came and we had been told that Riley was going to be
second on the list for the Catheter. I was a little disappointed by that
because they make you fast your child for at least 4 hours before the
procedure. I figured if Riley was first; at least they would be on time and get
straight into it. I knew how much my daughter loves to eat so I felt like
distracting her from her hunger would be quite difficult. Strangely though she
was the most serene baby I had ever seen. It was bizarre. Normally when it is
getting close to feeding time: Riley cries, screams and kicks her legs
frantically to tell you to feed her. Honestly if you watched her that morning
you would have no idea she had missed a feed. She was perfectly content which
is what we prayed she would be the night before. However I think our patience
was beginning to run a little ragged because she was scheduled for 10am and the
doctors were late. Turns out the case before us was quite difficult and running
overtime. In the lead up to this I felt like “Okay let’s just rip this thing
off like a Band-Aid and just get it done” but that morning felt less like a
quick rip and more like a very long and slow painful peel. We were escorted
down to the Surgery area and still ended up waiting another hour. By the time
they came to collect her I think I was so keen for them to just take her
already because I didn’t like the fact that the last time she fed was six hours
ago. Riley remained as cool as a cucumber right up to the moment when she was
collected by the doctors. We were relieved she would finally be getting some
fluids.
But that calmness was not to last as she returned from the
procedure a couple of hours later QUITE
The doctors later spoke with us and let us know that they
were quite happy with everything they saw during the procedure. We had been
told prior that if they found anything unusual it would require planning and
they would have to delay the second surgery. So we were very happy when they
told us that they would be discussing a date for it very soon. Otherwise Riley
continues to do well, she is still on that oxygen that she loves so much (it’s
like an addiction for her unfortunately) and she is required to stay in
hospital full-time at least for the time being.
The bubble has well and truly been popped. Even though we
enjoyed it, we know it’s time for the next step. We have heard all sorts of
horror stories about what babies are like after they have the second surgery
and that we could be in for a very rough ride. But there is the promise of home
on the horizon for us and the exciting prospect of Riley finally getting to
leave the hospital to begin her life as just a (somewhat) regular child. At least for a few years...
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