So the surgery date has been set.  We found out on Halloween.  That was scary as the date is November 12.  Twelve days away!  Eeekkk!

It kind of totally unnerved me.  I think it did Megan as well.  It is what it is though, and we will get through.  I am planning ahead and thinking of all kinds of things.  Like post-surgery, her school work, getting home from school after she goes back to school.  She walks home now, and this is quite a distance, and it will be cold.  I am not sure how that is going to go.  How much would it cost for someone to do it each day?  Bring her home that is?  Like I said, all kinds of thoughts. Her diet after surgery since for a minimum of four weeks she will be on liquids.  Also, since I have something going on myself, health-wise, is mine going to keep at bay so I get her through surgery?  Unsettling times.  However, I try to keep reminding myself that this has all been filtered through His hands and He knows what is going to happen.  I trust Him.  I know many will be praying for Megan, which I am grateful.

Megan will miss the retreat that the Youth Group from Church is going  on.  That really made her sad.  She will miss eating Thanksgiving.  She requested before her surgery date, she wanted a big, fat, juicy, steak.  I decided to take her last night to Texas Roadhouse.  She had the Cowboy cut (and brought half of it home to enjoy today) as her Aunt Chris and Uncle Joe suggested.  Here she is enjoying it:

Everything will fall into place and all will be well.  Thank you for those who are praying.

Consulation

Megan and I (her mother) have decided to start a blog to document her double jaw surgery experience.  Megan doesn't like to write, so I will be actually writing.  All of this means, from a patient's point of view, it is all her telling me how she feels, etc.  I am not actually going to feel or experience the surgery. I just get to have the pain from a mom's view.  From what I read and hear from the doctors, it sounds like it is going to be quite an experience. 

Background history - Megan has had braces on since June 2013 and her orthodontist said she just can't do anymore to get her bite aligned without surgery.  Her teeth are straight, the bite is misaligned due to her jaws.   Her jaws pop and catch, her teeth rub together in the back, the surgery is necessary. 

Very pretty, but that is the most closed she can get her mouth.  

October 10, 2014 - We had Megan's consultation at UIC, the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Dentistry.   Our day started by getting on the road by 5:45 AM, yes, that early.  It was still dark and we were both still tired.  We were also ready to get going on this journey of this surgery and what all it was going to entail.

To summarize, the UIC was easy to find, easy to park at and easy to locate where we were supposed to go.  We arrived almost an hour early, but went ahead and checked in.  The registration process seemed to be very organized.  You check in at the information counter and they give you a card with a number and a color.  Once your color, her's was 3 Red, is called, you go to the registration station number they announce. 

Registration was easy, provide identification, insurance information, and sign all the paperwork.  A really cool thing about the way UIC does it is that it was paperless, no giving you a copy of a Privacy Notice due to HIPAA that you are not going to read, and is just going to end up in the trash as soon as you can find a trash can, or are the floorboard of your car.   They have all the billing forms, HIPAA notice and acknowlegments printed and laminated.  They hand them to you and give you time to look at.  Then the registrar has you sign and print names on a little pad telling you which form you are signing.  Very cool. 

We were then directed to the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery waiting room.   We waited about a half an hour and were then called back to the consultation/treatment room by Dr. Laura, a surgical resident.    She said to call her Laura, or Dr Laura or Dr Pasch, as her last name was very, very long, and I believe Polish. 

She asked Megan why she was there, asked her about what her jaw misalignment affects and what the orthodontist had said.   Dr Pasch asked about Megan's braces, such as how long she has had them, etc.  She then said she would explain the surgeries, make some molds and take a 3D of her whole face. 

The doctor explained the surgery would be double-jaw surgery, they do each jaw and do each jaw a little differently.  I have some pictures to explain.  For the lower jaw, they cut in the gum-line at the back of each row of teeth.  Megan then asked, "Am I going to be asleep for this!?!"  The doctor then thought she better back up and explain surgery would be done in the hospital and she would be spending the night.  She would be asleep and not feel the surgery.  The doc then explained they would put a tube down her throat so she could breathe during surgery, and that really prompted questions.  Megan has still talked about that tube and it seems to really bother her!  I told her breathing was important, so the tube is crucial! 

Basically, they will do two, perhaps three, surgeries---one to her lower jaw, one to her upper jaw and possibly, her chin.  All the cuts are done inside the mouth, so no scarring will occur on the face.  They cut along lower molars in the gums, move the jaw in place and secure with pins.  Here is an example picture:

This will be the same on both sides.

For the upper jaw, they cut along the molars in the back, behind your front teeth and sometimes the roof of you mouth.  They move your jaw and then secure it permanently with these pins: 

Again, both sides will be the same.  

The plans are to spend one night in the hospital, of course, with lots of pain medication.  

They then put very tight bands on your mouth to keep your jaws from moving.  Weekly, they take off some and eventually loosen the bands.  She will be eating no solid food for a minimum of four weeks.   Our blender will get a workout! 

I will update this as I learn more.  The surgeon is supposed to call me about scheduling.  I am nervous for her and me, as we go through this.  God will be hearing many prayers.  I am already very thankful this is possible.