A Week in Our Shoes (pre-dental appt.)

Monday: Take Brooke to Hematologist for her pre-dental appointment appointment. Call dentist in Albq. to confirm appointment following Monday and ask for the sedation meds to be called in.

Tuesday: Free day. Time to start dreading the dental appointment and start worrying about the risks.

Wednesday: Run by the pharmacy after work to pick up the sedation meds. They're not there.

Thursday: Call dental office to ask that the sedation meds be called in. Again. Also ask for a refill for another bottle of Chlorhexidine for her gums. She bleeds awful when we brush her teeth. I run by the pharmacy during lunch to pick up the sedation meds, Chlorhexidine and a gallon bottle of Hibiclens ($64.98) that I ordered Monday while I was there.

Friday: Appointment with Hematologist to get Neupogen shot to help protect Brooke for the dental appointment Monday. Did I mention that these shots are $3,000? Take Brooke off Coumadin and leave her off for 3 days. Have to thicken up the blood to eliminate bleeding risks!

Saturday: Start Brooke on antibiotic and remain on it for 4 days. No Coumadin.

Sunday: Antibiotic. No Coumadin. Travel 3 hours to the Hankins Hotel in Edgewood (Rick and Vera's house). This has become our "home away from home." Brooke never sleeps well here because it's not "her bed at her house." Too excited about seeing Uncle Rick.

Monday: Antibiotic. Sedation meds at 9:00 AM. Travel to dental appointment. Turn off I-40 onto University and wait for Brooke to start crying. She begs us to go straight because if she knows we don't...we're turning into the parking lot at Carrie Tingley dental clinic. The kid knows Albuquerque! We turn into the parking lot and look at the petrified face of this innocent little girl with eyes begging us not to go in. We go in. The dental appointment is at 10:00. Brooke is strapped onto an adult papoose board, head, arms, legs, chest...every inch of her is strapped down. She looks like a Brooke-Burrito. We're use to doing this, used to seeing it done but it bothers most people. She's not happy. Our nerves are already shot by now. Brooke tries to kick and does manage to scream for the entire 30 minute appointment. The hygenist has to be fast, patient and have a steady hand. Hopefully she's compassionate. The sedation meds have slowed Brooke down some, but her adrenalin keeps her fighting with all her might. Hopefully, not much bleeding occurs since the Coumadin has been stopped. The appointment ends...and SURPRISE...there are multiple issues with her teeth that will require subsequent appointment. "What? You're booked 5 months down the road?" "OK...we'll take it". What choice do we have since they are one of two dentists in our state that will see kids like Brooke. Besides, you go where insurnace pays! Amarillo and Lubbock are not options, even though they are closer. We leave the appointment, usually in her wheelchair because she's sedated. We put her in the back seat where she begs mom to "hold her." She's asleep within 1 minute. Isn't it amazing what will power can do? She refuses to sleep until after the procedure yet she sleeps pretty much for the next 4-5 hours. Note to self: NEXT TIME, GET A WHEELCHAIR THAT RECLINES! We got eat, run by Target, stop at Sam's and head home. I ride in the back seat with Brooke so she will sleep. I massage her head the full 4 hour drive with her famed Home Depot orange plastic hammar. (This is her comfort item and she likes me to rub her with it.)Our nerves are fried. Brooke is worn out. Mike is alone in the front seat listening to his iPod. The next 2-3 days are spent trying to get Brooke caught up on sleep and trying to ease her frayed nerves. It's back to work for me on Tuesday and the start of Mike's last week of freedom before school starts.

We pray for no seizures caused from the stress, no infection and no bleeding. We just pray! Please pray that all goes well Monday. We don't say the "D" word at this house because it's Brooke's greatest fear. God, be with my baby during her cleaning and afterwards. Protect her from blood issues, clots and infection.