On Thursday May 5 at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester, Byron underwent a Green Tendon Transfer, elbow release and some additional hand and wrist surgery on his left arm. For the first time, among all the various surgeries and procedures he has had, this surgery was Byron’s choice.
Last month Byron saw Dr. DelBello to discuss his scoliosis. Byron’s pediatrician wanted Byron to be looked at because almost all children with Hemiplegia have some sort of scoliosis. The doctor was not at all worried about the scoliosis but remarked that he could do some surgery on Byron’s left arm to make the placement more natural and the hand more relaxed. Dr. DelBello said it would be largely cosmetic, but it might give Byron a bit more functionality in that hand. Byron was immediately eager to have the surgery if it could be completed before summer. With Byron’s great luck, we were able to secure a date where the cast would be off before mid-June. After the cast is removed Byron will need 12-20 weeks of therapy twice a week to ensure that the new placement remains and to tease out some more functionality.
The surgery was a success! The surgery was late afternoon. All told we were at the hospital just under 6 hours including recovery time. The anesthesiologist gave Byron a nerve blocker before he woke him up, so his arm was numb until about 4 am the next morning. Then the pain really kicked in. He was on Motrin, Tylenol and opioids for the first day. Today we will no longer give him the opioid. He seems to be doing fine. It’s pretty uncomfortable but Byron thinks it was still worth it. Before and after pictures will follow.
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| Waiting for the Surgery |
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| The Beautiful Hospital - Very clean! |
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| After the surgery, waiting for him to wake up. He woke with a start and was VERY grouchy! |
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| Home an happy with a very late dinner of Taco Bell. |
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The next day - brave and smiley as ever!
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