Heartbreaking Moments of Motherhood

On Monday David underwent circumcision surgery.  He's a bit over 3 years old now, so the most common question is Why?  David came into our home at 4 months old through foster care and we were blessed to adopt him when he turned 2 (you can read about our story here, here and here).

You see, circumcision is an elective surgery, and for his birth parents, being gainfully unemployed and on state health insurance, this procedure was not going to be covered.  They were in no position to pay for it out of their pockets.  Well, when David was less than a year old he got 2 urinary tract infections and then recently he had another infection on his penis at the foreskin and had to be taken to the ER.  It was there that we discovered, not only the infection, but that he had a chronic condition in which the foreskin was too tight.  It became medically necessary for David to be circumcised. 

Fast forward to Monday, February 21st.  It was David Day.  Surgery was not the way any of us wanted to spend this special day.  We had to wake up VERY early to drive to Mesa, AZ, for the outpatient surgery.  We checked in, registered, and got David dressed in a tiny hospital gown.  It was then that a nurse we all just met came to take my unassuming son away.  He cried.  I mean CRIED.  A stranger was taking him, dressed in strange clothing, away from his parents and he didn't know why.  Then he would go into a room with other strangers where they would put a mask on him and do other things and he didn't know why.  I watched him being carreid away from me, crying and calling for me as I walked towards the lobby where I was to wait.  I choked back tears and thought of my poor boy being scared and lonely.  First heartbreaker of the day.

It didn't take long and we were finally called into Recovery to see our boy.  Andrew and I were escorted into a room with a recliner.  I sat there and a nurse brought my sweet child to me all bundled up and fresh from surgery,  He was still out of it from anesthesia and couldn't walk because of the caudal (a type of epidural).  I choked back tears again as I was still scared for him and what he was feeling post-surgery and for the relief I felt being able to hold him again.  Another heartbreaking moment.

Thankfully our long drive home immediately after the surgery was without any problems or complications.  But, once we got home, and as the anesthesia was wearing off, the pain got worse.  He cried and moaned.  There was nothing I could do for him.  Third heartbreak of the day.

No one said being a mom was easy.  It sure isn't.  And there is nothing worse than witnessing your child in pain and not being able to help.  Poor boy.  I hope he heals soon.  Very. Soon.