A lot has happen in Thao's life since I last wrote an update. Just one day before Thanksgiving Thao had her first surgery. A balloon was placed in her neck. The surgery was a complete success and Thao was sent home earlier than expected. Over the past two months Thao has visited the Hospital each week to have saline injected into the balloon. Increasing the volume in the balloon will cause Thao’s skin to stretch. After a few months her scared skin will be replaced the “new” skin from her neck. They will first replace skin up to her mouth. After a few months another balloon will be placed in her neck. Once enough new skin has grown they will stretch the skin up to her eyes. It is also possible that a few months after that they will place a balloon in the back of her neck and remove the scares on her scalp.
It’s amazing to see how quickly the balloon has grown and how well Thao is taking to the treatment. She is a resilient child and has an incredible ability to focus on the results of the treatment and not on daily difficulties she faces due to the treatment. Her positive and infectious spirit has not only helped her get to this point, but has helped those around her support her. Just by looking at her photos you feel her energy and excitement as she embarrasses the possibilities of life.
Host family Hanh and David have done such a great job with making Thao and Cong adjust to their new life. They have introduced them to their friends and family, School, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas as well as taken them to see sights around their home. Without Hanh and David’s kindness and hard work Thao and Cong would not be in
Hanh and David have been keeping an excellent photo journal for Thao. Here are some photos from their journal.
Before surgery Dr. Vu examines Thao and makes marks on her neck which will help guide him during surgery.
Thao wanted to see what Dr. Vu had drawn on her neck. She pointed to the camera and then to her neck. Once a photo was taken she was able to see where the balloon will be implanted.
It's been two weeks since Thao's first surgery. She's doing fine and not feeling much discomfort. She's adjusting to her reduced neck mobility and is slightly annoyed that she can't easily write in her journal. She still has the stitches under her chin but they should be removed in a week. Then she'll start her weekly doctor visits to add fluid to stretch her skin.
Santa meets Thao at the Christmas tree farm. Before she met him she said that anyone can be Santa, all they need to do is wear the suit. This Santa seemed to impress her though; she gave him a hug before leaving.
Thao watches a video while
Thao is very emotional when she is given her first birthday cake for the first time in her life.
She has doctor's order for a home teacher. The concern is that children may bump into her and cause the tissue expander to pop out of place. So she has an at home teacher 30 min /4 days a week for 3 months. Thao has benefited from home teacher a great deal. Because she has one on one attention and the program is adjusted to her beginning English level. When she was going to classroom, it was just too advanced for her.
She is very responsible and hard working student!!
Thao shows off a new outfit and Portuguese handbag that was mailed along with inspirational messages to her from and admirer (Amazin Le Thi). The skin expander is growing weekly and Thao says little Allison is doing well.
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