30 Staples

Garth is tough. About two weeks ago he had surgery on his ankle. He hobbled around the house, working through the pain, going to girl's camp, and preparing everything for a week at scout camp.



And after one day, his intestines began to hurt again (over the past few years, he has been dealing with this problem). Our good friend Steve had gone to help with scout camp...but he too had been in pain...his tooth! So Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum headed for the hospital, leaving the boys at camp to fend for themselves (no, I kid, they joined another pack). Tweedle Dee was dropped off at a hospital near the camp (and far from us...3 hours away). Tweedle Dum went home to find out he needed a root canal...oh yeah...and as I write this, he is in Vermont, running a 100 miler (hence my decision to name him the "Dum" Tweedle)...Go Steve.



Tweedle Dee, whom we will call Garth, was admitted to the hospital. He was very disappointed to miss out on all of the scouting fun...,except for maybe the 100 plus temperatures combined with pure thick wet air...we east coasters like to call...a summer nightmare.



Blessed day. The small town doctor thought he might know why Garth had been suffering for so long. A past appendicitis, which healed, left scar tissue, might had been the culprit for causing blockage problems on his small intestines (or something like that).



He was scheduled for surgery the next day. Grandma Gair and Pops Gair immediately headed south to be with Garth. I remained home with a house full of kid's with many needs, appts, places to go, piano lessons to teach...blah blah busy life blah. Oh how we wanted to go and see our Tweedle...but so grateful Garth's parents came to the rescue.



The surgery went great and sure enough, the appendix had been as good as gone and had left plenty of scar tissue. Unfortunately, they had to slice his abdomen right down the middle...ewww and ouch.



Just as things were getting better, they took a turn for the worse. His incision site became infected (abscess anyone?!) and a systemic infection followed. This required heavy antibiotics and an extended hospital stay.

They finally allowed him to go home...yay! under the understanding he would clean his open wound and return two days later for a follow up appt (a 2 hour drive each way). He did that and they were able to remove the remaining staples and told him he didn't need to come back (unless he wanted to :)

He came home and has been continuing his healing process. He usually feels well in the morning and then by afternoon he is, "weak as a kitten."

Unfortunately his tribulation continued on Sunday when after a few days of itchy hives, he awoke to a totally swollen lip. That required a trip to the ER to find out he is now allergic not only to penicillin but the anti-biotic, Cipro as well. Poor boy...he can't wait until he is roaring like a Tiger and leaves the "kitten" as a distant memory.

We love you Garth..our little kitten.