The Story of Tori

All day Tuesday, Tori had a low-grade fever and a sore on her gum. The bump grew larger and more painful and her face began to swell. By Wednesday morning, I knew something was wrong since the entire left side of her face was swollen and her temperature was finally over 100. Not knowing whether to go to the dentist or pediatrician, I called the nurse who said to come on now. We got in at our doctor at 1030 and by 1130, we were headed to the hospital (talk about shock!... you mean I'm going to the hospital? now?). My doctor said that infections can be life-threatening, so this was nothing to mess with. He told me he believed it was an abcess and that it would have to be drained (surgically) and that we would be at the hospital for a few days.

Mark met us as we were filling out papers at admissions. Good timing as Tori was starting to get REALLY scared. She had heard the words 'surgery' and 'drain the abcess' and was starting to really freak out. Daddys make great comforters!

At 1230 she got her IV. This was very scary for both of us. It was pretty hard - but she got through it and they even said she was very tough. She thought she was pretty wimpy, but they assured her that sometimes even grown men cry and that most boys/men are overall more wimpy than girls. (sorry guys...)

Next came a visit from friends and then a flower/stuffed animal delivery which both made Tori's day!!! I promise to go visit any of you if you end up in a hospital room! It makes all the difference in the world!! Thanks to all of you who did this for us :)

After that Mark left to get things ready to spend a few days and Tori and I began waiting for the CAT scan. After several books and a movie, they came for her at 330. I called Mark to let him know we were going in and he told Tori this would be a piece of cake. It was - and even Fuzzy got to do it with her!

After a few more books (530), the doctor came in to say that the films looked normal, so there was no abcess and there would be no surgery, but we would be staying for several more days, maybe til Monday for IV antibiotics. We rejoiced over the no surgery part and started calling people.

Then, at 630, the 2 ENT specialists came in and told us that it IS an abcess and she DOES need surgery, so it was scheduled for 715. (they said it was just small on the films... kinda fuzzie)

Well, later, after eating ice cream, Tori's bump started to bleed a little. I noticed that it wasn't just blood and her face lit up at the realization that it was draining itself! She immediately said she was praying it would drain completely by 715am so they could just cancel the surgery. But I told her that wasn't likely. And we all went to bed. (my brother took Kaylie home so Mark got to stay too - yippee!)

At 7am this morning, they wheeled Tori to the holding room with all the other 'bodies' - it was a strange experience. Just before Tori woke up, I had been trying to think of something profound to say to her before she would go in the OR - like on Madeline when Ms. Clavell said, 'you can do anything.' Now, we were wheeling her down the hall and I had forgotten about being profound - I was only thinking that my baby girl might be afraid. Then Mark said, "You know what to do" and Tori said "Yep". Clueless me said, "What?" and Tori answered, "Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you." I Peter 5:7. Thank you God for caring for my baby. and for me. and for Mark. and for Kaylie. Thank you that we have a place to throw down these heavy weights.

After meeting the anesthesiologist and nurses and doing prep stuff, the doctor came in and we all said our good mornings. He asked how Tori was and she told him it had been draining. He suddenly got excited and took a quick look and said "Then let's cancel this! We don't need to spend this money."

All I'm thinking is - No Way!!!! That was just a childish idea, nothing but a hope, a prayer.... But you know what? It was an ANSWERED CHILDISH PRAYER!!

The doctor wrote in her chart as we all stood amazed - then he even wrote discharge orders. Mark bent over Tori and we all thanked God together. We were back in the room by 730 - who can we call this early???!! We were excited! Of course we didn't really get to leave until 10 - but what did we care - NO SURGERY!!!!

After Mark went to work, we just had to wait to actually be discharged. At one point, Tori and I were just sitting together on the bed and Tori broke out into song - 'Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice'. And then, in a little while, 'God is So Good', being sure to sing the 'He answers prayer' verse, and 'I love Him so'. What a precious time.

After visiting the room where Tori was born, we headed home for a short while. She had a dentist appointment at 130. My dentist doesn't let mommies go back, so this was very hard for the two of us who had spent the last 24 hours together - through theinitial shock, the IV, the CAT scan, down the long hallway to surgery - and now I have to wait with the other mothers... the one's whose kids are just getting their teeth cleaned.

I was worried as ever now. What were they doing to her? Were they pulling the tooth? Were they being careful around her sore? Was she OK? Did she need me? Was she in pain? I was about to go nuts and for some strange reason (this never happens), I didn't have a book. I eventually succumbed to reading an article about the superbowl halftime show. I almost puked - even though the article was agreeing that it was planned and wrong.

I couldn't take it anymore and asked the next hygenist I saw if she would check on Tori. A few minutes later, now 230, they called me back. When Tori saw me, she came running to me crying. I couldn't help it, I started crying too. She said, "He pulled my tooth and it wasn't even numb!!" At that moment, I remembered the ENT's telling me that the pus inside an abcess is so acidic that it somehow keeps the nerves from accepting a local anesthetic. OH MY -- SHE TRULY FELT THE WHOLE THING!!!!!!! We were both crumpled heaps crying in the middle of the dentist's work area. I was a little embarrassed that I'm the mother, supposed to be helping my child and here I am crying with her. I explained to the hygenists and the dentist that we had had a hard day! We got out of there as fast as possible and headed home. We planned our rehabilitation: an Oreo Shake from Jack-in-the-Box and a trip to her cousin Kimberly's house to play and then take Kaylie home!

But before we could start rehab, we were still falling apart inside, both just needing to cry. As we were gathering things to take on the trip, I realized this and called Tori over to my lap and we just rocked and prayed. We reminded ourselves and God that although we felt terrible and weak, we had NOT forgotten what He had done for us that morning. We STILL rejoice!! We STILL sing God is So Good. And we STILL know where our help comes from - even when we just want to cry.

And then we were off - at 345 - we left our heavy weights and began our rehab. And it was perfect. And I watched my baby play and smile and run around with her cousins. And now we're home. And all is well.

I told my sister-in-law that I feel like a new mommy with a new baby... kinda hard to let her out of my sight. I want to know she's ok. no fever. no pain. no swelling. Guess I've got some more weights to lay down....

Thank You God for holding us in Your hands. Thank You for friends that lift us up in prayer and make such a hard thing not as unbearable as we think. Thank You God for caring for Tori.