25th June: stoma reversal surgery

23rd June: Oliver was doing well, the last few days had seen him stable and his medications had been reduced. Oliver was on a total of 4 medications now compared to the 10+ he was originally on, so this was a massive improvement.

Also his infection had cleared up, Oliver was infection free.

24th June: With Oliver still improving he was booked in for his stoma reversal surgery tomorrow. (25th June)

Mum was with him today, she got in some more cuddles before he would soon be to sensitive to hold.

When I recived these photos of mum holding Oliver, I always felt such happiness. I knew the benefits from skin to skin care and just the benefits of holding him.

Not to mention the benefits for us mentally. There is no preparation for this journey and you can read leaflets and information till your blue In the face, but nothing can or will prepare you.

25th June: The big opperation ( stoma reversal )

The morning Oliver was due to go for his operation was a morning of many emotions. He had already had so many operations where we was told he might not make it ect, but this opperation was different. This operation was preparing him for his future. After this operation, the plan was to get him back to our local hospital and then home. 

As scary as another operation was, with all the risks that are involved, nothing could prepare us for the next stage. (Next blog post is likely to cause upset and possibly trigger emotions, a warning ⚠️ will be placed on description).

Mum was with him before he went down, and we was told that the operation would take about 4 hrs. 4 hours to us was like a day, time went so slowly and for 4 hours you just don't know where to put yourself or what to do. I myself am not religious, but in times like these you would do anything to make something easier, so I said a prayer. 

4 hours later, Oliver was back out of surgery. 

All bandaged up, we was told the surgery was a success. Being told the surgery was a success is the best news ever, you can't put into words how it makes you feel. You want to cry with happiness, you want to call every one you know and just shout from the roof tops, even tho many people wouldn't understand.

They took away some dead bowel, that was the likely cause of most of his infections. They reconnected his bowel to the part that connects to his bum, so for the first time Oliver might actualy produce a proper poo. He did need a blood transfusion and he was completely dosed up on meds. 

The admiration for the NHS surgical team is beyond anything I can write, but I can assume you get it.

The strength Oliver had to go through another surgery will always give me strength when I feel down and feel like I can't go on. My son just wouldn't give up, and his fight for life continued to get stronger as he did.

26th June: Just one day after his operation, Oliver was doing well. He was only requiring 36٪ oxygen, this was good according to the nurses. The downfall was, over the night his infection markers increased, the nurses explaid they would keep an eye only, but its not unusual after a major operation.

Next, ⚠️ warning, graphic images ⚠️

Problems with the surgery wound 😪 might trigger anxiety.