Preston Takes on Surgery

Written on July 30, 2021

I am sitting bedside at the hospital with baby boy as we await him going into the operating room. Yes, he’s having surgery and mom is starting to freak out just a little. Ok, a lot.  Meanwhile, Mr. Preston is busy telling me how comfy the bed is as if we are at a hotel and not a hospital. Last night we read his book The Day I Had Surgery and I’ve been counting down the days until surgery just to make baby boy feel a sense of ease but as usual he is completely fearless and I am, well I am being a mom.

We arrived to the hospital with Preston wearing a super hero cape and mask because they would give him the super powers he needed for surgery. When he asked to wear them, of course I agreed. Because, honestly what’s cuter than seeing kids in costume when it’s not Halloween? But his simple request was so much more. My son believed he had super powers and surgery was no match. Completely fearless. I strive for that. To be immediately confident when faced with the unknown; because honestly, what can we do about the unknown anyway?  

That’s motherhood. Learning lessons from our children when we thought we would be the ones teaching them. Offering up the best poker face to give strength and encouragement even when we are feeling the exact opposite inside. Constantly trying to figure out what to do and what to say. Because do any of us really know what we are doing anyway?

A prayer before surgery and one awkward walk with mommy trailing way too close to the moving hospital bed and just like that Preston was off to surgery….

Recovery

The first thing Preston did once awake was shake hands with the doctor. In the recovery room, he attempted to get a third Popsicle. I was prompted to expect a very sleepy child for the entire day but a few hours in and I’m questioning the doctor. Baby boy has been back to his normal self and I’ve been telling him to stop jumping over and over and over again. It’s as if surgery never happened; kids are resilient that way. And we made it, through something that seemed so difficult…..well at least to mommy.

As always, thanks for reading!