GregoryBrand.com

Lloyd had his consultation with the Pediatric Plastic Surgeon over at Mott’s today.  It is in fact a dermatoid cyst, which is what we’ve been assuming all along.   There were some cells that were meant to develop into skin that just never got around to it when Lloyd was in utero, resulting in the development of the cyst. The doctor said he sees them a lot and it’s a very easy surgery to go in and pluck the waterballoon out.   There could even be hair in it!  I’m hoping for a toe-nail, too. 

He recommended we do the surgery sooner rather than later, because over time the cyst can travel up Lloyd’s forehead, leaving little tentacles along its journey.  That means that when it would be time to do surgery, they’d have to cut up his whole forehead to get all the pieces.  Much better to do it now when it’s just one little sack.  It’ll just be a small incision right about his brow.  

The scariest part is the anesthesia.  Luckily, Mott’s Children’s Hospital at U of M has their own pediatric anesthesiologists, and of course, the hospital is one of the best in the world.  Anyway, not only is the whole concept of baby anesthesia scary, but there’s the added stress of having to make Lloyd fast for 6 hours prior to surgery.  Joy of joys.  Luckily, they say they will try and get us the earliest surgery possible, so he’ll be asleep for much of the fasting time.   

Although the actual consultation went fine, the waiting room period was a disaster.  We were waiting for TWO HOURS before we were seen, along with about 30 other families lining the hallways.   Nothing better than a doctor’s waiting room experience enhanced with the presence of several screaming toddlers, many with saddening physical issues like cleft lips and burn wounds. 

But Lloyd earned a million awesomeness points.  During the whole waiting and consultation experiences he never lost his cool.  In fact, he shouted out exclamations of excitement at the other children, and actually had a couple giggle fits.  We are really lucky to have such an amazing little cyst head, soon to be stitch head.