Update #2...Post #3...Still With Me?!?

First night post-op went as well as it possibly could have, the patient has downed a couple bowls of cereal, and the pain meds are flowing, so it's time for an update!!!

After a long 8 hours of surgery, Dr. Owen came in to give us the final report about our brave little man. 

Everything went as planned, plastics-wise. He was able to borrow the cartilage from the left ear to deal with the right lobe and tragus. He also beefed up both ears with additional skin grafts from the groin (roughly hip to belly button...yikers...but last time, it was hip-to-hip so trying to stay positive) behind both ears after cutting through that tethered skin. He has the pink foam stitched to his head, behind both ears, and the Glascock dressing (large plastic bubble on an elastic strap) covering his right ear. He'll have to wear this contraption for 2 weeks until we go back for the post-op on the 28th. 

Unfortunately, he was not able to do the electrolysis on the right ear because he didn't want to risk any negative side affects on the Med Por ear while it's still healing from the new lobe, tragus, and untethering. He also wants to wait so Zane is the "least-tan" possible so the process will work most effectively. (Side note: Zane is tan...like super dark tan...so this will be in the dead of winter. My fave.)

Of course, please pray for the obvious needs of healing and pain management. Once again, that pesky skin graft is the biggest offender. But there are some additional issues that could use some prayer. When the bandages come off, and Zane sees that the hairy patch isn't gone, he's going to be pretty bummed. We will prepare him, naturally, but reality tends to smack you in the face. Secondly, because he doesn't miss anything...like, ever...Zane was well-aware that Dr. Hansen fully expected him to be able to hear through the right ear post-surgery. Before bed last night, he put his finger in his left ear and excitedly said to Peyton, "Say something to me!!" When he couldn't hear from the right, there was obvious disappointment. We haven't broke the news that Hansen wasn't able to fix the hearing bone. Even though he rarely spoke about it, he was definitely hoping for the same result we all were. So we just told him that it was too early to hear and that we'd talk about it in a couple weeks. He's also pretty discouraged that he will once again have to start the school year with the "cone" and all the activity restrictions, and my promise to discuss things with the school/teachers aren't doing much to encourage him. So please pray for his heart and attitude with all these things, in addition to the healing/recovery.

Thanks so much for all your love and compassion, sweet friends. We are so thankful for each one of you!