Less Than Two Weeks to Go

We are less than two weeks away from Seth's scheduled surgery and tomorrow we return to Children's for another MRI and pre-op labs. We will also be meeting with the anesthesiologist during our visit. Seth is delighted to miss school tomorrow and I feel thankful that he is enjoying simple pleasures and not feeling completely overwhelmed by what lies ahead. At the end of the day, he is still a nine year old boy (almost 10!) who finds great joy in teasing his brothers because they have school tomorrow and he doesn't. 

As anyone can imagine, I have been feeling a lot of stress and anxiety as we near the surgery date. I appreciate the friends and coworkers who ask about Seth, but then talk about normal, everyday things with me. I probably think about something related to Seth multiple times every hour of every day. I welcome the normalcy when friends and I can laugh about something silly that happened the night before, share parenting frustrations or complain about an issue at work. Because sometimes my thoughts about what is to come seem all consuming to me, I appreciate those who can just relate to me as Amy - friend, parent, coworker.

Goodbye Summer...

The summer has gone quickly and school starts later this week. Although we had hoped to have Seth's surgery completed this summer, we were not able to get it scheduled until September. We are quickly approaching his scheduled surgery date and I will be relieved when we get there. Waiting has been hard. Knowing what is to come, we are just ready to do it and get "the surgery" behind us.

We have prepared for the school year as usual, buying new school supplies, making sure uniforms fit and getting new school shoes. But preparing for a new school year for Seth also means educating the teachers and staff who will be working with Seth this year. That involves updating his seizure plan and making sure that everyone involved in his care and education is informed about Seth's epilepsy, what his seizures look like and what to do when he has a seizure. I need to make sure the school nurse is up to date on current medications and any changes or new information I have about Seth's seizures. I also need to make sure that classroom teachers, his tutor, speech therapist and school bus driver have access to information. In reality, I can't be there with Seth all day, every day, so I need to do what I can to make sure I have prepared his educational team with the information they need to handle Seth's seizures effectively and assure his safety while he is in their care.

While the lazy days of summer are coming to an end and the sometimes hectic schedule of the school year will be here before I know it, I am ready. I am ready for the school year, for Seth's surgery and look forward with hope to the future.