Still some complications....

*Again, a warning as there are a few 'gross' pictures dealing with pus. This is all part of the journey, which is why I must do these types of posts as well, not just positive ones. 

So yesterday was supposed to be Fill #3, but due to the top incision splitting open a wee bit, we postponed it a week. I had a good chat with Dr. Zuker on the phone on Wednesday and then again today. After Wednesday's chat, we were going to come in on Boxing Day to have her expanders filled. However, after having talked with him this afternoon, he really felt we should stop filling for awhile, and give time for her incisions to heal up. We were very much relieved.

And this decision to wait another 2 more weeks seemed so much wiser again after tonight. Tonight we noticed her bottom incision was pretty crusted over with yellow pus, more so than the last few nights. It was so crusted that the only way to get it off was to allow warm water to shower on it, which is what we did. And this helped a lot, getting rid of most of it.

Before the shower: The incision starts at the blue threaded knot and goes to the left. The very dark thick line going horizontally is all hair that is matted with the crust of pus. You can also see bits of dried yellow pus.

And with the warm water, the hair is no longer matted and the scabs of pus are pretty much gone.

About 2 minutes after pat-drying it, the incision started to leak pus. And fast. It leaked for well over half an hour, constantly dripping with no stopping.

Half an hour later, and some saturated gauze, the leak slowed down to dripping a little bit every 30 seconds or so.

You see, it is so hard to tell if there is an infection around the incision, due to the fact that the incision is in her birthmark. The skin is black/brown. So pink doesn't show through. Well, we know now for sure there is an infection. I also noticed that after most of the pus had leaked out, a bubble that I thought was a corner of the expander, is now pretty much gone.

I did email him again tonight to give an update. I do question what to do with the incision: do I just leave it or continue to clean it with warm water and a Q-tip, and then apply Polysporin after? I would think to keep cleaning it, but I worry about aggravating it too much.

So yeah, not a pretty sight, that's for sure. But there is reason for thanks:

• We thank the Lord that He has placed Dr. Zuker on our path and that despite him being so busy in such a fantastic hospital, he makes the time to call me at home
• We thank the Lord for healing the top incision after it opening up 
• We thank Him also for the support we receive from all those near and far

We ask for your continued prayers, that this may be solved and that her bottom incision also begins to heal up. We pray that the worst of the infection is behind us. 

As for Keziah? Well, despite the infection, she is enjoying her days frolicking in the snow we've received. Another reason for thanks - that this has not affected her much at all. Praising God for His goodness!!

*edited later Friday evening: I just got off the phone with the resident surgeon at the hospital. They want to see her tomorrow morning. There is concern that the infection may be in the back expander. We pray this isn't so because if it is, the expander will need to come out right away. Please pray with us that the infection is only in the incision and that antibiotics will clear it up. So off we go tomorrow. I will update the results when I can.