The Alveolar Bone Graft

10 years and 7 months have passed since we first learned about the long road ahead for Holly.  Once the first 3 surgeries were over, it's been a lengthy, plodding road to this hopefully final procedure: The Alveolar Bone Graft.

To tell you the truth, one day post op, it's almost anti-climatic. I'm grateful, very, very grateful. The surgery went as planned, unilateral graft (so stitches on one side not two) and a tiny lip revision which will require three stitches to be removed. No sweat. After all in the time between the last palate surgery, we (as parents) have shepherded one child or another children through an 8hr dental procedure, a tonsilectomy and 4 wisdom teeth pulled at once.  A two-hour bone graft with stitches at the front of the mouth is so much easier than tonsils. So far, I know days 2 and 3 after surgery are hard. Still compared to the waiting; anticipating the scary idea of harvesting bone and grafting it into place hovering somewhere in the near future for so, so, so very long, We are all relieved to have this over.

The long road part came in the yearly visits to the cleft clinic. There was one year when surgery for speech was recommended and after careful consideration we opted not to do that. So far, Holly's voice is clearly understood and no other mention of  speech problems has ever been brought up. Then we skipped one year in between because there were no changes in Holly's progression. Next came years of  "Is it time for braces yet? Not this year, maybe next." Not this year maybe next. Not this year....you get the idea. And when braces finally did happen, the question for the last 18 months has been, "are the teeth in place yet?" First we thought surgery was going to be in December, then maybe April but it took 2 months to get on a calendar to pull a tooth and so...July, 2018 was the magic date.

Walking has not been as difficult as we thought. She has been a trooper and was up and ready to move right after we got into her room at Baptist. She didn't go far but did walk. Once the IV's were out she was ready to be free to move. So much better than we anticipated. She has taken it easy and being 10 helps a lot too. She can tell me when enough is enough.

Soft foods were a little more challenging. If it could be all dairy, then no problem. Over soft mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, ice cream, yum!  But that wouldn't be good for anyone. We worked in some almond milk smoothies and soup was good too. Holly was so glad when we got to step up to slightly firmer foods, like toast and pancakes.

Now we are 2-weeks post op. Still no swimming and 4 more weeks of no contact sports (no injuries to her mouth). Some stitches remain. Grateful beyond measure this was scheduled for summer. Even though no swimming has been a bummer, we've manged. Keeping my eye on the calendar for our last check in with the doctor and so ready for this is to be completely O-VAH!

Thank you to everyone who has prayed us through this journey!<3 nbsp="" p="">