Number 9

Maw J. came with us to ACH last Thursday. Cody had to have a contrast enema and some x-rays done on his cute little tummy. Maw J. had not yet experienced the event that is our ACH trips. :) I was so glad to have her coming with us. She has a very special relationship with Cody. More so than the normal Grandmother/Grandson relationship. She is special. Cody and I sure needed her calming ways and undying support. We get to the hospital and Cody is SO excited to show her the glass elevator and the cops. :) He loves 2 things about Arkansas Children's Hospital - those glass elevators and the fact that the nurses, doctors and cops make him feel like a celebrity. In fact, those are my 2 favorite things as well... If there is one thing that Cody Jensen loves to do, it's to be a leader. He leads us to the radiology waiting room. Maw J. cooly asks if she should wait in this waiting area during the "pictures" (this is what we call them, we don't utter the word, enema) and I laugh, loudly. She is soooo cute.
They call Cody back and he immediately begins flirting with all the nurses and they just eat.it.up. He even has nurses from other stations coming over to check him out. He has everyone cracking up. I stand back for a minute and watch this...soak it in and begin to think how incredible it is that this 8 year old, who is the one being poked and tested and analyzed, has the comic relief going in the room. I think it shows his soul, his real person, don't you? He climbs on the table because the doctor needs an x-ray of his belly before the enema. He smiles and says, "Mom! I'm so excited to get my picture taken, CHEESE!!!" He continues this and we all laugh and love him. Maw J. is a proud Maw. What a beautiful child I have. Just beautiful. The doctor comes in and chats with Cody and then....he sees the enema equipment. The tears fill his eyes immediately, he is trying so hard to be brave. He tells me he doesn't want them to touch his bottom. It just kills me. My eyes fill with tears too. How do you tell your baby that these enemas are to help? It just sucks. Long story short, he is a complete rock star. 100% brave and we get it done. Thank the Lord. We go directly to the glass elevators, take a couple rides up to the top....adimre the view of the Capital Building and all is right in the world. :)
Then we meet with Dr. Smith - he is a gut surgeon basically. See, for the last several months we've been doing what is called, Social Cleansing. We have to do an enema on Cody every other day. He doesn't have a lot of bowel control so this cleansing helps prevent accidents. This is becoming an uncomfortable topic for Cody. He doesn't want to have accidents. He certainly doesn't want Mommy and Daddy to give him an enema. It is beyond awful. The tears. The why. He hates that he "doesn't understand his bottom"... That's no way for my sweetie to live. So, we now proceed to surgery number 9.
Appendicostomy - google definition - the operation consists of connecting the cecal appendix to the abdominal wall (usually at the belly button) and creating a valve mechanism that allows catheterization of the appendix but avoid leakage of stool through it. This procedure allows the child to administer an enema, inserting a small catheter into the orifce on the belly button (Cody's will most likely be on his side since he has a lot of scaring from previous surgeries).
So, Cody will get to be more independent, finally. When I met with this doctor a few months ago to discuss more lifetime options...and he gave me this option...I sat there, frozen. I knew that the accidents and the enema's were defintely not a lifestyle. But, I also wasn't prepared for what the realistic options were. Damn Hirschsprung's. I was mad at this disease. Mad as hell at this unifying neurological glitch that happened while Cody was growing in my tummy. This thing that has caused him so much pain. Physical, mental, emotional. But then I had to check myself. I'm not going to get angry, I'm going to get even with this thing. I'm going to help Cody get even with it and show it that he is Cody Ryan Jensen and he is special and important and going to change the world. Take that you stupid "glitch".
So, we are preparing for August 11th. My sweet baby's 9th surgery. Another anesthesiologist patting my hand as C1 drifts to sleep and he says, "Don't worry mom, we're going to take real good care of him." Another waiting room, waiting, leaning on the good Lord, sending Cody and the doctors strength. Another night of holding him while he cries, promising him it is going to get better. Yet, I couldn't possibly trade my life for anything. I couldn't trade my son for anything. I am proud of Cody. He is going places. How beautiful to be apart of that. But, I can't go it alone. Cody can't go it alone. We feel it each time you lift us up in prayer. Please continue to do so. Lift us up, but also lift up the doctors that hold my sweet baby in their hands.

Follow Cody in his positive, unwavering road to the top! :)

Much, much love and hope,
Kelli