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Brett's Hospital Visit

I had to have an operation on my mouth called a bone graft. The bone marrow was taken from my right hip and placed into the cleft in my hard palate where my teeth are, on the left side of my mouth. My Orthodontist also had to pull two of my teeth out.

The day I went to hospital was on Monday the 10th July’89. My hospital is at the Royal Children’s Hospital. When I got there I had a sticker put on front and back, which said "Nil By Mouth". Then the doctor came and checked me over to see if I was alright and not sick in any way. I could not eat all day because I was Nil by mouth. My last meal was breakfast at 7.00am on the day of my operation.

I also had a visit from the doctor who gave me special anaesthetic which put me to sleep during my operation. This was done by inserting a special needle into my hand called a butterfly. The special sleeping medicine is then put through this needle into my blood and the doctor can keep me asleep as long as he wants.

Before I went to theatre Sister Tracey gave me some medicine to drink which made me very sleepy. She also cleaned the back of my left hand and prepared it with some numbing cream, ready for the butterfly needle. She covered it over with some plastic tape. Mum stayed with me the whole time I was in hospital. Dad came up before I went to theatre and waited with Mum until I came back. My Nana was also there when I came back, but I don’t remember her or Dad being there.

Mum slept on a folding bed next to my bed, which was good. I don’t remember much from the time I came back from theatre until the next morning.

I can remember hearing Mum and knowing she was there, every time she held my hand. I can also remember seeing a nurse sitting at the end of my bed, reading all through the night. They call this "Special Care" and it was used for all cleft palate children, after they had mouth surgery, so they didn’t choke.

Mum said I did silly things through the night, like trying to climb out of bed, and not being able to understand why I couldn’t lift my left arm, as it had a board and bandage around the drip they had in my hand, it seemed very heavy! The next morning Dad brought Grandma up to the hospital and Nana also came again.

They brought me some presents to cheer me up.

At this time I was only allowed to drink clear fluids. Sister Tracey took my drip out of my hand and said I was allowed to try and walk slowly. She said that my legs would be like jelly and I had to be very careful when I first got out of bed, not to fall over. This was very painful on my hip and hard for me to do on my own.

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About 10.00am Mum, Dad, Nana and Grandma all helped me to the bath and got me all cleaned up and into my own pyjamas not the hospital ones like I had on. Dad had to carry me back to my bed. I felt much better after my bath and I was starting to feel very hungry. I had to wait until 1.30pm for lunch. I only had mashed vegetables and jelly and ice cream. They let me go home about 3.00pm that day.

My Dad carried me down to the car as my hip was getting sore and my face was starting to hurt more. I felt very miserable in the car and also for a few days after I was home. I was glad to see my family. I got lots of presents from everyone and Mum said I was very spoiled. The first week at home was hard for everyone as my hip was stiff and wouldn’t work properly. My face kept swelling and it was very tight in the swollen area. It was hard to eat, so I had very soft food for a few days.

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Mum and I had to go back to the hospital on the following Friday for my check up. (4 days after surgery) They were very pleased with my mouth and hip. The doctor said that it would be a few weeks until everything would be back to normal. Every day I was getting a little better.

After my second week home my God Mother Aunty Dell and Mum took me and Clinton (my younger Brother) to the circus and it was great!

Although I have had three weeks off school – two weeks were because the doctor said so and the third week was because Mum and Dad thought it was best for me so I didn’t get knocked or fall on my hip.

I have one more check-up at the hospital this Friday and then a check-up at the orthodontist on Monday. School starts Tuesday, WON’T THAT BE GREAT!!!!!!

My surgeon said I still could have two more operations later on. One to trim up my lip scar tissue and the other to build up my nose, maybe with a bit of rib cage. I handled this surgery OK so I will handle these next ones also!!!

Written by Brett Sparling.

9 ½ years- July 1989.

 

It is now the 22nd February’99 and as a parent of a son born with a complete unilateral cleft of the lip including the hard and soft palate it is important for everyone to realise that every child is different and deal with things such as surgery differently. Brett has always dealt with his cleft condition very well and now a handsome 19 year old is surviving in the workforce as a mature adult. He is a typical young person who doesn’t seem to have any worries, just to high on life itself, testing and trying his parents every chance he can get, just like others of his age.

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When Brett was 18 years he decided with his surgeon that he wouldn’t have any more surgery as he felt happy with himself and the way he looked.

He had discussed his appearance with us his family and his friends at school and we all told him the same, it was his decision which ever way he decided to go regarding final touch up surgery. This was now his choice, not mine or my husbands and we are both very pleased with his attitude in life regarding his cleft condition.

We have always discussed openly Brett’s cleft and this was done where or whenever he needed to. As he is the third of four children he has always and still receives support from his Sister and two Brothers, as well as his Mum and Dad, friends and relatives.

Now that I look back I feel that his orthodontic treatment was the longest and for me his Mum the hardest to cope with due to the time span it entails.

At this age Brett’s orthodontics are nearly finished and his teeth are absolutely beautiful. Something his family and friends are very pleased about for him. He loves how his teeth have turned out, we can only hope he continues to look after them in the future.

I would also like to add that the support we have received over the past nineteen years from the professionals involved with Brett’s cleft condition has been the best and without them giving us that, life may not have been so easy for this family.

His surgeon made a comment 18 months ago – he felt he could trim up Brett’s lip slightly, and at that stage was quite happy with his nose shape, but he stated if he hadn’t done his bone graft surgery himself, he wouldn’t have been able to pick up that this surgery had been at all. This type of information from a man we have dealt with since Brett was around 13 days old was a big boost for Brett and us his parents.

My comments for others is to take every day as it comes. There will be good ones, and always be some bad ones, but life can be trying for us all. Something like a cleft condition or another disability can help bring people together and if there are problems seek support from others who have been there and know what you will be going through. Just knowing there were others I could talk to regarding my son’s cleft has been a very important part of my life.

 

From Brett’s Mum Wendy.
 
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Last modified: August 05, 2006