Up until Saturday I didn't know whether I was coming or going, things happened so quickly. It's amazing how your adrenalin can kick in when you need it the most, and how your body can function with limited sleep and loads of stress. This is what happened............
We had been back in Lesotho for 4 days and things were going really well. Gemma's sugars had been far more stable, and although we were feeding her regularly during the day, with higher sugars there is far less of an urgency to get food in, and she was eating real food. Her and Bryce would have the same food at the same time. It was the best quality time I've had with both my children.....ever!! By Tuesday morning I had just got everything unpacked and sorted out a homeschooling corner in our lounge, and was looking forward to good times to come. Michael had gone to a meeting in Maseru for the day. By mid morning Gemma started having a sore tummy, so I gave her some Nurofen and because she responded well to it and the pain disappeared, I didn't take it too seriously. The pain reoccurred late afternoon and this time the Nurofen didn't do the job. She lay down for a while, and by 5pm when she started really complaining when she was eating I knew the pain was serious. Michael arrived back at about 5:30pm and we both simultaneously decided that she needed to go to hospital. After throwing in a few extra clothes and toiletries, Gemma and I were in the car ready to go. Bryce was happy to stay with his Dad, and gave Gemma her Lizzie doll to take with. We got to Bloem at 9:30pm, and Michael had arranged with Gemma's pediatrician in Bloem that she had to have blood tests done on arrival. We waited around until the blood tests came through. My heart literally sank to the ground on discovering that her Amylase levels had risen to over 1000 (they are meant to be between 30 and 80). There was no point admitting her in Bloemfontein, and I knew then that she would have to go back to Johburg. I stayed at my sister's house that night and she slept in the bed with Gem and I. I couldn't sleep and by 4am I was ready to get up and drive to Johburg there and then, luckily sanity and sleep set in soon after and I realised it would be unsafe to leave at that time. The pediatrician phoned early on Tuesday to say he had arranged everything with the Johburg doctors and she should be taken back. Her pain was so intense, and soon after we arrived at Sandton Mediclinic she was put on antibiotics and had a sonar to show that there was a large collection of fluid in her abdomen that would need to be removed. The worst scenario was confirmed that she would need further surgery, but this time the surgeon would move the bowel close to the pancreas so the fluids would move through the bowel and not accumulate in the abdomen. Surgery was due today, but on Thursday her pain was so intense that I phoned Michael to come through as soon as possible in case she needed to go in earlier. He made arrangements with his mom to go to the lodge to help look after Bryce. Bryce was happy to stay in his own environment at home, rather than go to Bloemfontein. Gemma's pain started getting better, and by the time Michael got here on Saturday, her stomach seemed a lot better. As it stands now, she won't be having surgery today, and the doctor will be doing blood tests later to see what her amylase levels are doing. We are extremely grateful that her surgery has been delayed and hopefully if all goes well, she can avoid it entirely. She is currently only on an antibiotic, and hopefully this will continue to help in the meantime until the amylase levels come down and the fluid clears.
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