Day 32 – 24/04/2011 Alice Springs Children’s Ward.

Day 32 – 24/04/2011 Alice Springs Children’s Ward.

It was with a level of excitement that we headed off to Alice Springs Children’s Ward.  They had called twice before 9am just to check that we were coming and with plans to go adventuring today Pete and I headed to the hospital for a dressing change.  Oh gosh how wrong we were, the nursing staff took one look at the burns after the gauze was off, took more photos and sent them off to Adelaide and promptly put Callum in a bed.  Not what we had expected at all. 

Much to Callum’s horror he was also once again made to fast, he watched with sorrow as the lunch cart went past and groaned his way into the afternoon!!  At 2:30pm we were told that it had been agreed that he was to have his foot “debased” apparently this is where under anaesthetic the top of the burn blisters is taken off and cleaned….ouch!! then a special silver based cream is put on that promotes healing. 

At 3:30pm the surgical staff came for Callum and we headed up to the operating theatre.  It was at about this time that Callum’s bravado started to slip!! He has been so brave and patient through this whole ordeal, the only incentive I had to get him through the fear before his operation was the promise of pasta for dinner!!  That put a smile on his face.

Callum went into surgery at 3:45pm and I was allowed to sit with him in recovery at 4:45pm he was back on the ward by 5:15pm.  Pete and I played tag at about 6pm so I could catch up with Zac and Claudia!!  It had been a long day, again we are indebted to our fabulous friends Melinda and PJ who had helped out today looking after Zac and Claudia.

After taking Zac and Claudia into Callum for a quick hello and game of cards, Pete and I swapped and he went back to the caravan.  Callum and I settled down for a quiet night in the kids ward.  We did get to have a quick chat with the surgeon to try and find out how long Callum would be admitted for, we did find out the surgery went well but no discharge date as yet!!  I am hoping we can go home tomorrow, if we can’t get discharged we might be able to get “gate leave” so that we can all go to the Alice Springs Desert Park.

As I settled down for the night, on my 2 inch thick piece of foam, I accepted the inevitable fact that I was not in for a comfortable night’s sleep!!  Callum on the other hand was sleeping very comfortably in his bed!!!