Thursday, March 7, 2013

Thursday March 07, 2013

Been a long time since the Fite's have posted.  Sorry if anyone feels deserted.  I am mainly adding information so we can keep up with procedures.  They will never become common place but we have not been very diligent in reporting.  Clay had a tissue expander in his scalp under his hair for the majority of last summer.  We had a plastic surgeon that was planning to move the hair and rebuild one of Clay's ears.  We received a call unexpectedly in the middle of the summer and the surgeon we had been dealing with was dismissed from staff and we were handed off to a new surgeon at Children's hospital in Dallas.  The new surgeon was very helpful and ultraconservative.  He stated that he would not have done the ear or the hair.  He offered to finish the hair project but told us he was not comfortable doing the ear and his heart was not really in doing the hair.  He encouraged Clay to consider a wig and artificial ears.  Clay was not willing to consider either one. (Surprise)  To bring this chapter to a quick close Clay went in for surgery the day after school started last year, August 28th, and they moved the hair back nearly to the crown of his head.  After the surgery the doctor told us Clay should be able to make his own decisions about future procedures.  He is 9 years old.  Do you think a 9 year old would ever choose to have another surgery after the first 45?  Chapter closed.  We did a follow up burn visit with our old friends at Parkland just to receive some other opinions and see what our options were.  Parkland has a new doctor on the burn staff that trained at Shriner's in Galveston and had spent the last several years at Brooks Army Medical in San Antonio.  You can imagine what he has seen and experienced over the last few years with soldiers from the wars.  He evaluated Clay and made several suggestions that were both intriguing and encouraging. On February 25, 2013 we returned to Parkland for the first time and the new burn doctor did extensive work on Clay's left hand.  The morning of the surgery he came in pre-op and told us everything he was planning to do to the hand.  He was very upbeat and said, "this is going to be fun."  Clay looked at him like he was crazy and said  uh-uh.  He straightened two of Clays fingers out and put deep pins in three to hold them in place. He deepened the web space between the fingers and released the burn scars that were contracting in the palm of his little hand.  He also released some skin around the thumb and extended it to the out side part of his hand, all with the intent of giving Clay more grasp and improving the function on his left hand.  Clay was able to go home from Parkland the same day as the procedure and has to keep the pins in for six weeks.  He was extremely disappointed that he had to sit out the last weekend of his little dribbler basketball games.  It was very painful for him for several days but in typical Clay fashion he has accepted it and not let it slow him down much.  He had a follow up appointment today and his class was going on a field trip he did not want to miss so his mom let him ride the bus to Ft. Worth for a visit to the Omni and then picked him up and rushed him to Dallas for an appointment at burn clinic.  All and all Clay is doing well and has all the energy and likes and dislikes of a typical third grader.  The new doctor at Parkland is going to assume care for Clay and we will probably consider another procedure sometime this summer.  Hope this note finds everyone well.  Thank you to all who have cared and or prayed for Clay through the years.

10 comments:

  1. Wonderful to check in and find an update. It boggles my mind to think of 45 surgeries. I have incredible respect and esteem for your family! Kudos to Clay's "Fiteing" spirit!

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  2. So excited to log in and finally see an update... I do realize with the family just trying to run as normal as possible it would be very hard to update so often forever but we did grow a special spot for you guys when we spent so much time in the hospital with LaCretia and went through so many of Clays surgeries with you all whether it be just through the blog or us running into you at the hospital. We still think of you all often and so happy to see how far little Clay has come as well as the rest of you. Praying for you all still, Amy Airhart

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  3. I am aware you do not know me, but I have been following Clay's story for a very long time and was pleased to find an update when I looked today. We started following the blogs after one of the friends told us about Clay and the family. You folks have been in our prayers and know that God is a major part of your life. I am glad to read that you are now pleased wtih the new doctor and his encouraging plan for the future.
    Sue Chappell in Oregon

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  4. You do not know us either but we are so glad for an update on Clay. We are glad to hear how he is doing and often think of your family.

    Ann and Alda Blakemore, Paris, TN

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  5. Another "we have never met, but..." We have held your family in our hearts since we heard what happened, and we are so very thankful God has held you up through it all! We love you all!
    Don and Jeanie Printz in Nebraska

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  6. So glad to see how Clay is doing these days! I don't know your family but know your sisters family a little and I think of you guys often!

    Sharon Jesse from Nebraska

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  7. We have never met either, but I have a grandson that is Clay's age and we have followed your blog since the accident and have kept Clay and your family in the forefront of our prayers. I do still check your blog for updates and so appreciate your post. It's great to know Clay is such a happy child and has such a resilience and positive attitude about himself. What a blessing he is!!

    The Southerland Family in Austin Texas

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  8. I was glad to read your post and am glad Clay is still the brave hero that he is. Do post whenever you have the chance.

    Keeping the Faith!
    -Gary and Jeanne'
    The Snyder's from Seymour

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  9. I have checked the blog for a long time and no new news and decided you had quit the blog, so haven't checked for a while. Bruce checked to-night and found the new news. We have thought about ya'll time and time again and glad clay is doing o.k.
    Much love to the Fites. Bruce & Edna

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  10. Wow! I am feeling bad for not checking in more often and am astounded that with all that has been on your plate you worry about us being deserted! I too have awesome respect for your family. I was very happy to read this post and catch up. I think of you all often. Glad Clay and Larisa have gotten to know each other. Glad for the good doctors out there. Clay's wonderful spirit as well as that of the whole family has been a great encouragement.
    Rena from California

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