A great summer

Naomi had a great summer following her 11 th spine operation. She headed for Scripture Union camp ( a christian run residential holiday) in Cirencester , with Luke and cousins Benjamin and Thomas. They all had a wonderful time. Naomi once again joined the village drama summer school, who learnt and performed Aristo Cats in 1 week. We had a family holiday in Brittany on our lovely camp/ beach site. Naomi has been joined at Arnold Academy ( years 5-8) by Luke and they are both having a good start to the year.

much more comfortable than hospital chairs...

Had a good night naomi just needed help with 3 turns- Naomi texted me to wake me up! Lots of resting today.
Grandma and Grandpa ( Smith) visited today while Naomi had her first sit outside for a week - it was lovely in tthe sunshine.

Rachel

and home ....

Naomi had her brace cast yesterday, and we hoped it would have been fitted the same day... I didn't arrive however. We had planned that richard would take over for the weekend, though as Naomi seemed well enough we brought her home this morning.
The surgeon was happy not to do a post op x ray, and at this stage we can do what the nursing staff do anyway.
Naomi is resting on her bed now... . Rachel will go back next week to pick up her new brace, as she will be off school all next week.
Thanks for youremails and messages again. 6 months time we do it all over

Waiting game

Naomi and Rachel had a good night sleep. Naomi did well in plaster theatre and they are now waiting for the new spinal brace. In the mean time naomi has had a full wash and hair wash while lying in her bed. She managed 1 hour sitting in a chair while having lunch and to do some painting. Thank you to all those who have emailed, blogged ( I know some of you have tried but found it difficult to make it work!) texted and called. It really helps me ( Rachel ) to know so many are supporting us.

God bless
Rachel ,

luke came to visit

luke and daddy brought macdonalds for us for tea tonight. We enjoyed it. Naomi is about to have some pain relief and then we are going to try and get her out of bed.... Wii isn't great exercise !

one step

Naomi has achieved a lot today... she was transferred to the childrens ward mid morning and through the day has come off the morphine pump and IV fluids, and the catheter removed... Grandma and Grandad visited which was lovely for Naomi.
Tonight should be much easier for her with less going on.

Day into night

The doctors are happy with the operation and have put in a new longer bottom rod with plenty of overlap for the next few extensions . Naomi had a rough night on the High Dependancy Unit. She was sick twice and had to be catheterised . She finally rested at 3 am. Richard and I are doing 6 hour shifts sitting with her for this first 24 hrs until she is back on the kids ward where there is a bed to sleep on next to her.
Love Rachel

Sleeping

Naomi has been fairly awake this afternoon, but is now sleeping. She seems in some discomfort but otherwise is doing ok... As I walked back to HDU I took a photo of the outside of the building!

HDU all to herself

Naomi is out of theatre and in HDU. 9 beds and she's the only patient. It will fill up later I'm sure.... She seems very calm though was in recovery and HDU before they called.
She has inflatable stockings this time something new to contend with, alongside canulas in both hands, an oxygen mask and a morphine pump in her hand... Listening to Heidi on her ipod. Now that's multi tasking !

Jam Tarts

Naomi and Rachel are relaxing on the ward this evening, and went for a wander round the hospital.
Monday afternoon is cooking with the hospital school so they made it in time to make some Jam Tarts.... Weve been told Naomi is first on the theatre list for tomorrow, so they will be going up around 7,30. I will drop Luke at school and then head down to be with Rach. She is expected to go to HDU, and will most likely stay there 24 hours or so.
Im hoping Naomi will login in here this evening and say a few words herself... The picture was taken last week, when courtesy of 2 days of school, Naomi Rachel and Luke spent a day with Auntie Clare in Milton Keynes....

Next op 4th July

Hi guys
My next op is in a few weeks and I am getting up to the point were I am really worried about it .The operation that is going to be done is where they take one of the rods out and put a longer one in and I might be going into the H.D.U (High Dependency Unit) for a day but hopefully not for more than one night!
We are hoping that I wont be in hospital for more than 2 weeks but not sure. I will also be missing the move-up day at school so I wont know who my teacher is ?( by the way I go to a middle school so ,no, I wont be going up to secondary school this year) so hopefully I will get back to school on the last week of term!
Thanks again
Naomi

Naomi and I made it home last night after a day of getting the spinal brace cast and fitted. We had just 1 hour left to get it fitted and an xray "in brace "done before the staff went home at 5 pm and we could be discharged! The brace arrived at 4:45 and xray was done at 5:00! So we were allowed to go home! It's good to be home especially after 5 new admission to the ward yesterday meant we said goodbye to a ward of post op. crying children and stressed relatives. We all slept well and are now resting. Rachel

Maths Lesson in bed

Hi 6CH
I hope you are all enjoying school. This is me having a maths lesson.
Naomi

Plaster Theatre

Naomi was first on the list for Plaster Theatre today, which meant an early start, and wrapping up in lots of blankets. The bed is wheeled outdoors from the ward across ramps. The brace she had made in December didnt fit at all well, hopefully this one will be better.

Art Class

Naomi had to eat at midnight last night in order to be allowed her pain killers. A few ritz cracker did the trick. She wont get cast for her brace today as its a bit soon after surgery, so hopefully tomorrow.

back on the ward

Naomis back on the ward... Sore but calm and watching TV. they managed to get one last extension from these rods. I'm reminded its almost 3 years to the day that we came for the first operation. we've all learned a lot in that time. We thank God for his goodness, and Naomi courage to keep doing this.

in theatre now

I've just left Naomi and rachel at the theatre doors. Naomi seemed calm with her ipod having decided she didn't want the temazapam (sp) to relax her..... her surgeon met us (sporting a nice black eye !) and explained he will stretch the spine as much as he can, and change the rods if they then aren't long enough.

Hopefully this afternoon now....

Naomi is 2nd on the theatre list, sometime this afternoon. Being woken at 6am for toast wasnt fantastic, but it could be a long wait! The girls are relaxing on the ward... more later..

Getting ready for my next operation.....

hello everyone
As you know i am going into hospital this week and i would like to thank everyone who has been supporting me for the last few weeks.
i would just like to point out the people who have really been supportive.
*Vic my children's leader at church and all of the children especially all the children who have prayed for me.
*My teacher Mrs Hewitt and all of my class.

If you have not seen my "YOU TUBE" video then why dont you have a look on links then the third one down.
I will miss every body while i am away and you might get a special hello from me so keep checking up.

NAOMI X X :)

9th Spine Operation

Here we go again... After some hope last year that we could switch to a non-invasive rod extension system, that isnt happening, and Naomi goes into Stanmore tomorrow for her next operation. We are a little unsure what they will do until Rachel sees the surgeon which will typically be late in the evening tomorrow after an X-Ray. Surgery will be first thing on tuesday morning 8.00am. They will either 1) try and get one final extension on the current rods in the hope of a switch to the non-invasive once the ethics approvals have been given or 2) change the upper rod completely to make way for several more extensions on the current system.
That will probably get discussed and decided in a matter of minutes tomorrrow evening so please pray for Rachel in that conversation.
Naomi knows what to expect, good and bad of course, and we and she know that there will be some tough moments this week.
Richard