A Day of Thankfulness

Mom, do you have to squeeze me so tight? 

One of our constant underlying questions over the last 15 months has been the health of Sidney’s heart and kidneys. Given her missing digits and fibula, it is common for other abnormalities to occur. In May, Sidney’s geneticist suggested an echo cardiogram and renal ultrasound. This was shortly after her last hand surgery, so we decided to wait a couple of months, giving Sidney a reprieve. Over the summer and into the fall, we knew the test was coming. I had a hard time shaking nerves, thinking another underlying medical issue might reveal itself.

Her renal ultrasound was completed first without sedation. I was immediately at ease when our ultrasound tech walked out with a very large lift on his shoe. He saw the lift in Sidney’s shoe, and there was an instant connection with his pint sized patient. He began discussing the many ways a diet heavy in fish and a lack of prenatal care could affect the kidneys. He was able to confirm both kidneys were present, however we would have to wait until later to receive the final results.

Renal ultrasound complete, we were shuffled to another room, on the other side of the hospital. As the oral sedation was administered, Sidney fought sleep. The gig was up. She was probably wondering if she was going to wake up with another cast. Half an hour later, she was still unwilling to let herself go to sleep. Our nurse reassured us children older than an infant typically resist sedation. A second dose was given, and it was bedtime for bonzo. Tom and I left the room for a portion to allow the ultrasound tech to do her job while the nurse monitored Sidney. In the instructions for the procedure, it talked a lot about keeping things quiet, indicating it was better not to make a lot of noise and cause Sidney to stir. However, I don’t think that would have been a problem, considering the soft snores we heard. 

We came back for the last ten minutes of the procedure. As the ultrasound tech held a poker face, I continued analyzing her expression from my seat looking in her direction. Finally, I had Tom trade chairs. I am a person who likes to be in control, and this was putting me over the edge.

Finally, the echo cardiogram was complete, and we waited for a very groggy Sidney to come around. She took so long to wake up, the nurse had to call ahead to the pediatric cardiologists office, indicating we would be a few minutes late. Vomit bag, kidney dish, and absorbant pads in hand, we arrived in the pediatric clinic of the hospital. Sidney typically gets sick from this type of medication, so I wasn’t going to take any chances. It was nice our nurse was on the ball and sent the items along for an emergency.

Eli had this test completed four years ago for an innocent murmur, and it took three days to get the results. We were very grateful to get the results a few minutes later. Dr. Chandra finally came in. His first words were “everything looks great.” This was the answer to many, many prayers since we received Sidney’s referral. He was also able to look in her file and tell us her kidneys were fine.

After arriving home, a loopy Sidney alternately attempted to dive off the arm of the couch and do all things without caution, wobbling around like a little drunk sailor. Tom and I had a full time job containing her. Our nurse advised she could get ornery coming out of the medicine. A few hours later, she was fast asleep. She had zero issues overnight, and she is back to her spunky self today!