The Louk Dynasty: Madi's big day.

Today started way better than expected. Well, let me retract, last night really never ended. We went to bed at around 1 am preparing everything only to wake up at 4am to give... well, to wake up Noemi so that she could give Madison some apple juice. It was the only thing that she was going to eat or drink for the next 12 hours.

We got up quietly so that Madi wouldn't wake up until we were ready to leave. Surprisingly, she didn't cry for her milk like she usually does. It was raining so we took the 1st available transportation, the bus. Apparently, taxi's aren't that accessible in the morning. We got there 30 minutes late but no big deal. Madison behaved incredibly well right up until she got the gas. 3 hours later, Madi came out of surgery and oh my gosh, she really looked different to us. They weren't able to do any laser therapy because they spent all there time reconstructing her nose. The surgeons let us know that it went exceptionally well.

Okay, let me explain what happen. When Madi got the hemangioma, her lip began to ulcerate. In other words, it opened up like a real bad, huge cold sore that just would not go away. The ulcer grew and ate up much of her upper lip, nose septum, and nasal tip. The nose septum is that part between your nostrils. That is why her nose looked flat with one big nostril. It had no support in the middle. Also, her upper lip healed but the lip just could regrow itself. What they did today was to graft cartilage from the back of her right ear so that they could rebuild her septum and then reconstruct her nasal tip and upper lip. Amazing, huh? Bottom line is this... the surgeon, Dr. Milton Waner, is a freagin' genius. As is his team of surgeons. Hands of gold I tell you. When they came out of the surgery, both doctors were extremely excited on how well it went.

However, we aren't out of the woods just yet. It all needs to set, so Madison CANNOT touch her face. We got these sleeves around her arms that don't allow her to bend her them (their called "no no's"... go figure). They are also attached in the back so she can't even clap her hands. She looks like a "T". It's a hell of a device. I ordered an adult version for Noemi for when she goes shopping. Should save me millions. Oh wait, cancel the order. She just threatened to use them on me when I go fishing.

Anyway, Madi is doing great. She's very irritable and cries when anyone other than Noemi or I approaches. She's on some pain killers that seem to be helping and after all the walking and carrying that I am doing, she better share the goods. Dr. Waner will be removing the stiches next Wednesday and they will be doing some intense laser therapy. So, next time you see Madi, she will look really different! As for the NYC, it's rainy and cold. I went to Chinatown to get us grub. Can you say Cha Siu Pow overload? I can't!

Minutes before the surgery.