Emily's surgery

Last week was nothing short of crazy in the Bertram house! Emily started getting sick while we were in Lexington at Keeneland. She even slept through half of the horse races, so we knew she was coming down with something. She started to feel better on Sunday, but still wasn't like herself. On Monday, we kept her home from school because she was still running a fever which turned into diarrhea. We figured it was just a bug going around, but yet none of the rest of us had the same symptoms. Monday evening, I found her on the floor holding her right side. My first thought...appendix! She was in alot of pain, so I called Alex and we took her to Clermont Hospital.

After the doctor saw her, she said she needed to go to Children's Hospital. She said she was severely dehydrated and had a possible appendicitis. Alex said that we could just take her there ourselves and she said absolutely not that they were calling the squad to take her. She said she needed fluids asap and this way, they could start the IV and get her there quicker. Well, that was easier said than done because it took 3 different tries by 3 different people to get the IV started because she was so dehydrated. It actually ended up being the paramedic that got it!!

Emily getting ready for the transport

Getting loaded up....she was such a trooper


Emily arriving at Children's ER

By the time we got to Children's, it was 10:00pm. I rode in the squad with Emily and my parents followed Alex to the hospital. We weren't really sure what the night was going to bring. Finally around 12:30am, we had an ultrasound and the radiologist said he thought it was early appendicitis and to prepare for a possible surgery. The surgeon came in an hour later and said he wasn't certain it was and they weren't going to rush surgery if it wasn't necessary. They ended up admitting us about 3:30am and we were taken to a room.

The next day, ended up just being a waiting game. Do we operate or not operate???? They said if she got better, then it wasn't appendicitis. If she got worse, then it probably was. They just wanted to observe her. Well, by Tuesday night, things really didn't change one way or the other, so they decided it was best to operate the next morning if things didn't change over night. Of course, they didn't, so she ended up having surgery about 11:20 on Wednesday morning.

Emily and Daddy before heading into surgery (yes, the horse was able to go with her to surgery)


Emily after surgery

The surgeon was very pleased with the surgery and said she did great. He said it was not a full blown appendicitis, but it was red and there was fluid around it, so it more than likely was headed that way. It was best that we got it before it ruptured! After surgery, her fever was gone, the belly pain was gone and we could finally see improvement, so we were happy they made the right decision.

Emily and Mamaw painting on Thursday

I think one of the hardest things was being away from Collin & Riley for those nights. We were gone from Monday to Thursday. Emily and Riley had never spent a night away from one another, so this was really big for them. They were so excited to see each other!

Emily and Riley reunite!

Thank you so much to everyone! We appreciate the prayers, phone calls, messages, and many get well gifts for Em! A special thanks to my mom, Grandma White, Aunt Tammy & Belinda who watched the kids for us while we were gone. An extra thank you to my mom who spent two nights (one of which was sleepless!!) with me in the hospital! She only left our side long enough to go home and watch the other two overnight, so Alex could stay with me. You're the best!!

It has been a week today since she had the surgery and she is recovering nicely. She went back to school a half day yesterday and full day today. She seems to have adjusted very well. Now the hard part is trying to keep her down because she isn't allowed any physical activity for two weeks! She doesn't quite realized that she has 3 incisions that need to heal!! We are so blessed with how far she has come in the last week!