Port Update

The last time that I wrote about Odette's port, I was full of emotion and very frustrated.  She and I did survive the healing process after her surgery and just as promised, it was worth it.  So, I decided that it was now time for me to fill you all in on what we think of the port now.

If you look closely by Odette's left elbow you will be able to see the bump of her port.  Since she is so small and doesn't have a lot of fat it is very obvious that it is there.  It is obvious to her that it is there.  She constantly tries to pull on it and if she bumps it, I am sure that it hurts her because she will hold it and cry.  She doesn't like to have her port accessed for a long period of time.  When we were at the hospital last time, it really bothered her.  When she gets her labs done every Monday, she cries for the two minutes that they get her blood and then she is happy and laughing again.  So, the bad really isn't so bad.  (I guess that is easy for me to say...I'm not the one getting poked.)

The good stuff is that she can get as messy, dirty and and wet as she wants and we don't have to worry about getting a line wet and infected (we haven't had an infection since she got her port--AWESOME!).  This is great since her new past time, if her siblings don't shut the bathroom door, is to splash in the toilet.  The very best thing about her port is she can have a bath!  Odette absolutely loves the water.  She loves to stand by the tub while I brush my teeth and try and turn on the water.  If her leg could reach over the side I am sure she would climb right in!  She definitely knows what the word "bath" means.  She loves her bath or shower.  I would have thought she would be afraid of the shower, but she thinks it is great to get her face all wet!