Daley Ponderings

Jon and I both went with Grace up to Dartmouth today.  The dentist met with us pre-op and said after looking at the x-rays, she thought her front teeth looked really bad and she expected to have to take out the four upper front teeth.  This just seemed horrible to us, but I signed the consent because it fits in the "best for transplant" box.  Jon left after that, but he did figure out how to get on the list to play the piano so that was good.

I went with Grace into the PainFree clinic and she got the anesthetic directly into her line, without needing a mask first.  She just laid there, eyes closing and yawning and I said, "Goodnight, I love you, I'll see you when you wake up."  Then they gave me a pager and I went down to the chapel. I pled with God with tears that she might keep her teeth.  I texted/emailed a few people also to ask that they plead for her teeth as well.  Then Jon came down to the chapel and we spent some time there together, encouraging each other with scriptures.

Her oncologist called and asked when a good time would be to meet, so we were fine with going up then.  So we talked to her and she is so compassionate.  We like her a lot.  She understands that there are things we don't like about what we have to do, and she did her best to help us understand and comfort us.  After that meeting, we went down to the mall/food court and got some lunch, which was good.

Back up in the family waiting room, the dentist came post-op and told us that she had only had to take out the two front upper teeth, and then also several fillings and three caps on other teeth.  So that was somewhat of a relief, and part of me wonders at God's sense of humor "well, I'll give you two, but I'll give the doctors two also."  I hope that doesn't sound sacriligious to some people, but it helps me.

Grace also had an eye exam and a dressing change while under anesthesia, but that did not take very long.  What did take a long time was for her to completely wake up.  I got to hold her in my arms and rock in a chair, but she did a lot of napping and sort of waking up and napping again.  Eventually, she was ready to read books and eat a popsicle and play with some toys.  After that, she had her CT scan which was very quick.

Home for pizza and hymn sing, which is a blessing.  She is now back to her cheery self.  Her smile is so wide that you can see all her caps, even though they're in the back.  And I do have to admit that the "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" smile is pretty cute.  I'd like to post a picture sometime soon, but now it's time to go to bed.  Thank you all for your prayers and support.