Laken’s Leg: 2nd Surgery- Texas Children’s 

On the morning of July 18 when I got that call from the ER I never imagined that we would be where we are four months later. But first off a little background of how we got to Houston.

On September 29 we had an EMG (nerve conduction study) done in New Orleans that showed no results to the majority of Laken’s leg, and no nerve conduction to many of the muscles in her leg. However the study did show a fiber (strand) of nerve had made its way down to the front of the leg under the knee. The Neurologist performing the study was amazed and concerned. She kept repeating the phrase “extensive damage”. Chalk it up to my OCD or me being a Mom but I asked, if this were your daughter what would your next step be? The Doctor and fellow Mom then said, go to Texas Children’s and get a second opinion we no longer have the specialist that she needs here. For the sake of continuity I followed up with our then surgeon and he suggested we wait a couple of more months and then repeat the EMG. We went home and I prayed incessantly.

We called on our trusty pediatrician to get us an appointment at Texas Children’s for a second opinion. The referral was sent to Orthopedic’s and we had an appointment.

On October 27th we drive to Texas Children’s CyFair Clinic. When we get to the back and the Physicians Assistant (PA) hears the story and sees the wound. She tells us that she believes we are at the wrong Doctor. Feelings of despair and grief come flooding. She must see this all over Laken, Shane and my faces. She says, ” hold on a second and let me speak to the Dr. When she returns she lets us know that she was right and that she went ahead and called the Doctor that can help us, gives us a run down of his credentials (not skipping the part where she believes he is the best in the field) and tells us he’s agreed to see us if we drive to Katy at that moment. Sure thing!!!

We get to Katy, (Texas Children’s West Campus) and there we meet Dr. William Pederson and his PA Lyndsey. He examines the leg, looks over the paperwork from NOLA and tells us that he’s pretty confident that Laken needs to have a nerve transfer. He will try to stimulate the nerve once she is opened up but if it isn’t responsive he will do the transfer. He then explains what a sural nerve transfer involves. He looks at Laken and says, “you will be cut from ankle to knee on the outer leg. Your foot will be numb and have no feeling on the outer edge from now on.” Laken looks at her leg and looks up at the Doctor and anxiously says, “I’m fine with scars Doc as long as I can walk and get my leg back.” Okay we are told that with the muscles atrophying he wants to get her on the schedule within the month. Right now he’s scheduling surgery for March so it’s going to take some work to get her in. 

After multiple phone calls to the scheduler we have a surgery date of Wednesday, November 23, 2016.

We wake up on Wednesday at 5:15 to get out the door of our hotel room. We were able to get rooms at the Courtyard adjacent to the hospital.

Shane, Charlotte, Aunt Connie, Laken, Richy, and me move into the waiting room to wait from 6:30-8:00 for Laken to be called to the back. A nurse walks out and calls for Laken. We go to the back and speak to nurses, nurse anesthetists, anesthesiologists, and finally Dr. Pederson, Lyndsey, and another Physicians Assistant. At 9:30 they come into the Pre-Op room to get Laken and she walks with them back to the Operating Room.

 

The five of us wait in the surgery waiting room which is stocked with vending machines and COFFEE!! After sometime a nice nurse comes out and lets us know that she is doing good and he has another hour and a half to go. At 1:30 I am starting to freak out a little and a few minutes later Aunt Connie says it’s a doctor he’s coming. In walks Dr. Pederson and he begins with, “she’s doing good”. He tried to stimulate the nerve while exposed and turned the machine all the way up to 200 with no response. He found that the peroneal nerve was wound in a tight knot and then made the decision to go ahead and start the transfer. He told us that sometimes when he cuts into nerve it will jump and that’s when he will second guess his decision. In Laken’s case when he cut the nerve there was nothing, no response. He then says that she will have 6-12 months of recovery and the only thing that may not come back is the big toe. There is a minor procedure that he can do to fix the big toe muscle if it is a problem.
A little while later a nurse comes in and brings Shane and I to the back. Laken is freezing and heavily sedated. She’s wrapped in the warm blankets one even around her head like a big scarf. She asks if it’s done and she’s fixed. Laken wants to know if she has to wear the AFO. We explain what the Doctor told us and she begins to cry, she is heartbroken. I cry, the nurse cries, her Dad and try to console her. The nurse gives her a Curious George stuffed animal. Charlotte comes in and she manages to cheer her up some while she dozes in and out. We are moved to a room and everyone says their good-byes.

 

Laken and I are in for the night. An uneventful night it was.

We wake and it’s Thursday, we get released just before 10am and Laken wants to head to MeMaw’s to see all of her brothers, sisters, and the rest of the family on the way home. We visit, and eat a sampling of all our favorites. Including BOUDIN DIP. (Yes her favorite food group is BOUDIN)

We get home around 4:30. Dinner consists of a turkey sandwich.

Friday, Laken is sore all over and very weak. Not in a lot of pain (which is great, since they failed to give us her Rx, and refuse to call it in)just sleepy and weak.

So here we are 2 days post surgery (praying the last one) and Laken is on her way to a full healing. We are forever grateful for all of your well wishes and prayers. THANK YOU ALL!

Please share Laken’s story: 

https://www.gofundme.com/lakens-leg-medical-expenses

#LakensLeg #PeronealNerveDamage #NerveTransfer #Neuroplasty #PeronealNerve #FootDrop #PeronealNerveInjury