Dealing with VSD - Part 5: Days after the Operation

On the day after Arif's life changing operation, we had two rounds of visiting time to see Arif. The second time Dr. Siva was there in the ICU. He came up to us and told us that some fluid went into Arif's lungs and they are giving medication to reduce the fluid, because if it doesn't, they would need to poke another hold just beneath Arif's rib cage to release the fluid. If not done, Arif could get Pneumonia and that would be risky in his condition.

We prayed hard that everything went well. Yus had to go back to Penang for work, so mom accompanied me in the hospital instead. Sadly, the next day when I just came in the ICU, Dr. Siva was there to tell me that the fluid amount in Arif's lungs did not reduce, so they needed to probe another hole beneath his rib cage. The doctor and his team covered Arif's bed while I waited behind the curtains. I could here Arif mumbling in pain. All I wanted to do was to be beside him to hold is hand. The nurse then asked me to wait outside because I kept on peeping thru the curtains. It took them about 20 mins before I was allowed to see Arif again.

They gave him another set of sedatives to let him go to sleep. So again, he was there, jsut laying down, motionless. I kept checking his stats and breathing. Everything was normal, but a mother could do nothing but worry when their own child is in this condition.

That evening, me n dad went to see Arif. As we came to his bed, his eyes was open, and Arif managed a smile. Oh God... the feelings we had back then. Both me and dad were crying. Dad then rushed outside to get my Mom. Arif's eyes just looked at me and around him. I guess he was wondering where he was and why I didn't hold him like usual. "I can't baby... not until all the wires has been removed. Mommy is here for you to hold your hand. Don't worry". Mom came in and Arif looked back and forth between us. He then started wriggling and crying. I guess he got upset that neither me or mom was holding him. His blood pressure went up, and the nurse had to come in and gave him some resting meds and asked us to take a step back to look at Arif. If he gets stressed up, his blood pressure would go up, and that wouldn't be good for him. So the whole time in ICU, we tried not to make any contact with him that would require him to need us to hold him.

In total, it took Arif 5 days to recover in the ICU, 2 days in HDU and 2 days in the normal ward before he was released to go back home. 6 weeks of confinement, close monitoring at proper washing and holding had to be done. We pushed it to 8 weeks so that Arif would recover well.

6 weeks went along pretty fast, and Arif recovered well. Alhamdulillah. Doctors told us that the hole had closed, though it would take time for his heart to fully recover.

It's been 8 months since his open heart surgery. Arif is turning 1 in 2 days time. He's an active boy now who loves to eat fruits, scream and knows what he wants. Feisty little child.

Arif my son, you're my little Super-Hero. You've survived a major surgery and become a normal, healthy boy. Even if you have that scar on your chest to remind you about it, take it as a warrior scar. A scar that proves you're a hero. A survivor.

Mommy loves you.