Emily's Surgery

Emily was to have her tongue surgery on December 21st, 2009, however, we ran into some complications. According to the doctor she is still too little to "put under" for this surgery so he came up with a plan to use Versed Syrup along with Nitrous Oxide. This sounded like a good plan until we called EVERY pharmacy in a 50 mile radius on and they reported that they do not carry the Versed Syrup. So we had to cancel the surgery.

We did find out that Versed Syrup is a controlled substance and pharmacies are not allowed to keep it on their shelves. The doctor refused to give the medication in the office as this would make her surgery an inpatient surgery and she would have to stay in the hospital over night-which is not necessary. We did manage to talk Target Pharmacy into a special order for the Versed Syrup as long as we would agree to pick the medication up right away after they recieved it so they would not have to show it was on their shelves. So long story made short.....we have the Versed Syrup in our possession and have made another surgery date on January 7, 2010.

Originally we wanted to get this surgery done by the end of the year as we had our insurance deductibles paid in, however, insurance has decided they are not going to pay for this surgery as they say it is not medically necessay. Let's see; Emily has stopped gaining weight (at 26 lbs for a 3 yr old), she cannot chew foods such as meats and vegetables because she can not maneuver them in her mouth to chew them properly, and she continues to have difficulties with her speech. We have done alot of "arguing" with the insurance company, however, they continue to say it is not medically necessary.

So on January 7, we will have Emily drink her Versed Syrup, write a check for the surgery, be thankful for what we have been given in our lives, and proceed into the new year.

This is a good picture of what Emily will have done.

The doctor will use a laser to "cut" under her tongue so she is not longer "tongue-tied". This will allow her tongue to separate from the lower soft pallet. Then he will "scoop" out the bottom soft pallet under her tongue. All this with no stitiches-amazing!!!