Family Forever

Chapter 2

Family Forever - Chapter 2

The family of three drove to Shriner's Children's Hospital Houston this morning for Sophie's surgery the next day. The nice thing about Shriner's is that they have you come the day before to get checked in and make sure you are okay. Shriner's Children's hospitals are also really family friendly. Everyone there really cares about the patient and gets to know the patient as a person, not just a patient.

They got to the hospital at ten in the morning when they were supposed to. Kevin was staying upstairs in the guest rooms, so he was close to them. This way they could trade off nights or if Dani needed some rest, they could easily trade. It made it simpler and easier than driving to a hotel every night.

Since Kevin was famous, they had provided them with a private room. The hospital room had two hospital beds similar to the one that Sophie had at home. The nurses let Sophie pick the bed that she wanted to have. Sophie of course picked the bed nearest the window because it had a cool seating area by it.

"Hello, my name is Cathy, and I will be checking you in today," the nurse said who showed them to their room. "Sophie, can you get over to the bed while I go get my computer," Cathy said as she left.

"Come on honey; let's get you on bed so we can start this check-in process," once Kevin got her on the bed the nurse came back in and started the check in process.

She first went over and put a hospital bracelet on her wrist and then she went and pressed a button on the bed, and it beeped a couple of seconds later with her weight. "Okay we are 85 pounds," the nurse said and then went and measured her, "we are 54 inches tall," the nurse said and put it in her computer.

It was over soon; the nurse gave them a card for lunch and told them that they needed to go get blood and go to physical therapy.

"We are going to change her," Kevin told the nurse who said, "Let me go grab some diapers and stuff so you don't have to use yours."

"Okay, thanks," Kevin said as he pulled down Sophie's pants.

"Dani," Sophie said as she reached out for her hand.

"Yea honey," Dani answered.

"You are going to be staying with me, right?" Sophie asked. We had gone over this at home already, but Dani knew that Sophie was really nervous about who was going to be staying with her at night. Sophie didn't want to stay alone at night, which had been an option, but she turned it down right away.

"Yea, I will be staying with you," Dani said as she leaned down to kiss her head. "One of us will be with you during the day also at all times. We won't leave you alone, okay?"

Sophie just nodded as tears started to come out of her eyes. She was scared for the surgery and was already in pain and just didn't want to be in any more pain. She knew what surgery meant and it means pain.

"Oh sweetie," Dani said as she stroked her hair out of her face. "Shhh, you are going to be just fine," Dani said as she gave her a kiss on the head.

They went and got blood taken and then had lunch. After lunch they went to physical therapy to work with Tim on how to transfer after the surgery. They finally had some down time which Sophie went on her iPad and updated her Caring Bridge page.

Hey family, friends, and fans,

Kevin, Dani, and I got to Shriners at about 10 this morning just when we were supposed to be down here! I am all checked in and have been to lab and physical therapy already. My surgery is scheduled for around 8 in the morning tomorrow. They will take me into the pre-op room around 7:15. Thank you for checking my Caring Bridge every day it has helped me be prepared and I am more ready for tomorrow! Thank you again!!!