Tortilla Trouble

A Lumbar Puncture (LP) is a pretty simple and quick procedure. Primary Children's Hospital developed a Rapid Treatment Unit (RTU) for quick and easy procedures under anesthesia that don't require surgical scrubs, hospital pajamas, or most of the stuff that goes on in OR. It is lower stress and quicker paced than the same-day-surgery, where we have been for Tommy's eye surgeries.

When Emma has an LP, she can't eat for 6 hours before the anesthesia. Friday I had NPO written in bold red letters on the new white board in the kitchen. NPO is a Latin acronym for "Don't feed that kid."

A little before 9:00 she asked me to make a quesadilla for breakfast, which I gladly did while Clinton was packing his lunch. We realized the faux pas after she had eaten half.

RTU wasn't staffed after 3:00, so oncology had to schedule us in the OR. We checked in with same-day surgery at 12:30 where they checked vitals and handed Emma the hospital pajamas for her procedure.

We had our regular check-up with Doug and Doctor Engle. We discussed temperatures and fevers. Even when her ANC is high and her immunity is ok, we must be careful of infections since Emma has a central line: her port. It runs directly into a major vein and, since it isn't original equipment, is a special danger for infection.

Chemo is hard on a body, and some bodies respond to chemo with fevers, even if there isn't infection or illness going on; but a fever is cause for running blood cultures and taking strong antibiotics in case it is an infection.

After our check-up, we headed for the OR. They used the same kind of quick anesthesia that she gets in the RTU; but that is a place of scrubs and hair nets and masks and shoe covers. I left Emma and sat in the surgery waiting room. Though it is a very nice waiting room, I have some tense memories that followed me in. The last time I was there, Emma was getting her port.

After the LP, I met Emma in the recovery room where she watched a movie and sipped at some juice. We got her changed back into her own clothes and she got a wagon ride to the car, as well as a new blanket.

This week we don't need an LP. If we can keep fevers down, we have a chance at a whole week away from the hospital.