Bambina's Surgery

At long last, Bambina's surgery draws near. Tomorrow, August 6, at 2:10 PM she goes under the knife to have her cleft soft palate repaired. We don't have a lot of details, other than they're going to use existing tissue in her mouth to close the gap, and the plastic surgeon will be creating a uvula during the proceedings. She'll also be getting tubes in her ears, as the audiologist who checked her out during her last visit found fluid in her ears. Recovery is expected to entail three weeks of arm braces to keep her from putting stuff in her mouth. People we've talked to tell us that she's unlikely to be in prolonged pain from her actual surgery, so that's a blessing.

So, if all goes well, the next time you hear from us, Bambina will be a new woman, with her birth defect a thing of the past. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers...