Plastic Surgeon

After Clark had his dose of factor, we waited the 72 hours before pulling off Clark’s pressure bandage… the bleeding has stopped. However, there is a giant protruding scab, and  it doesn’t look normal.

So to get some answers, Clark met with the Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery today. After hearing about the events over the last 2 weeks, and taking a look at Clark’s eyebrow, the doctor decided the best plan is for Clark to get stitches.

As it turns out, Clark’s scab is preventing his cut from fusing back together. The scab is actually in-between the 2 broken sides of skin. His eyebrow will not heal properly if left this way.

When I hear stitches, I think back to when I was 18, and needed 3 stitches on my hand. The nurse numbed the area, put in the stitches, and I was good to go! Apparently Clark’s case isn’t so simple. Since Clark is only 2 years old, and fights like a champ, Clark needs to get general anesthesia. He is actually going in for “surgery” at the hospital. They will wipe away the scab (you know, the one we worked so hard at getting in the first place), wash out the wound, and then stitch his eyebrow back together. Most likely 2 layers of stitches. “Surgery” is at 7:30am tomorrow morning, but we need to be at the hospital by 6am. Please have Clark in your thoughts. Even though he’s been through minor surgeries before, we still hate the idea of putting him to sleep.

Anyone reading this who has Hemophilia, or a child with Hemophilia: If in doubt, call your hematologist. The Surgeon doesn’t seem to think Clark needs factor before his stitches, due to the fact that he only has mild hemophilia. That didn’t sit well with me considering all of the bleeding Clark has had this week. So I decided to call Hematology myself. They were VERY glad I called to let them know about the stitches. And definitely want Clark to receive factor while he is under anesthesia. The nurse practitioner is now in the process of making sure that factor will be available, and that it is in the anesthesiologists notes. She is also calling to make sure everyone is on board.