Ekins Express

Abby's Surgery

Well we have officially decided it's time to have Abby's surgery on her vocal cords. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any improvement (like some doctors said there might be) and now we're concerned with her breathing being interfered with as well. By doing the surgery now at age 3 it will be easier for the doctors to "maneuver" while they work in her throat and she'll have plenty of time to recover before starting preschool next year. She gets asked several times, by kids her age and adults, "Why is your voice so quiet? Are you sick?" and etc. Though it doesn't interfere with playmates because she is literally loved by every kid she meets. We were in Best Buy Friday night and all of a sudden I wondered where Abby was. Come to find out she was just around the corner giggling with a little boy she just met.
We've been trying to get her prepared little by little for the past week. She goes in this Friday and will have a pre-surgery class on Thursday to get her familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of surgery.
We just pray that the doctor will be able to work entirely through the mouth so that he won't have to cut through the throat. This would mean less recovery in the hospital and healing time at home. Wish us luck! She's being really brave so far. We're hoping this results in a somewhat good experience for her. We're looking forward to lots of visitors in the hospital and lots and lots of jello and ice cream. :)
Though I'm really going to miss the sound of her current voice, I'm excited to hear the new one. Lets just hope she doesn't drown me out!


Where she's having the surgery. Did you know that Primary Children's began in the early years of the twentieth century as a church-sponsored institution? The Primary Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened a children's ward at Salt Lake's LDS Hospital in 1911. This action was taken after association officers Louie B. Felt and May Anderson were touched by the sight of a child on crutches struggling along a city street, and they realized the need for special medical help for children.