Here are some pictures so you can see how well Kaitlyn has progressed! I put her appointment update at the end of this post. When she was born the nevus was raised and not very big.
Then is began to spread within a few weeks.
It grew and began to branch out. Then it became a dark chocolate brown color right before her surgery.
Recovering from her 1st surgery at 6 months old. All of the pics taken right after her surgeries were too graphic to put on here so I opted for these:) We even had her ears pierced while she was under the anesthesia! She had over 30 stitches so she had to be put back under to have them removed about a week later.
Recovering after her 2nd surgery at 18 months old. She had to wear "penguin arms" so she would not be able to bend her arms and pick at her surgery site.
A week after her 3rd surgery last May. Her new skin went from bright white to black. It formed a scab and then fell off and she had beautiful pink skin underneath!!
Here is where Dr. Vicari took skin for her skin graft. This was only a few months after surgery. Today you can barely see a scar!!
Look how far we have come!!! She's our healthy, beautiful princess!!
Tonight we met with Kaitlyn's plastic surgeon at the hospital. Dr. Vicari is an amazing doctor and we are so thankful to have Kaitlyn under his care! Kaitlyn has such a bond with him..its so cute! Kaitlyn was peeking out the door looking for Dr. Vicari and when he came to the door she pointed her finger up at him and said really loud “I’ve been looking for you “Cari”. We were all cracking up! She had to show him her Bitty Twin Kaylee who was in her little stroller that she pushed all through the hospital. Kaitlyn has been picking her surgery site and we are trying to get her to stop. She did pinkie promise with Dr. Vicari that should would stop:) Everyone at Children's is so wonderful! Cam even commented tonight about how the nurses and doctors are so amazing with kids. What a difference it makes being treated at a childrens hospital! When we arrive everyone always remembers us and tonight they were asking where Kaitlyn’s other half was as Colin was not with us. Auntie Kelly watched Colin for us so we could concentrate on Kaitlyn…thanks Kel!!! The nurse was asking us Kaitlyn's birth date just to double check info and Kaitlyn's blurts out “Nobember 18”. Can’t believe she remembers it!! Dr. Vicari was pleased with how she is healing. Hard to believe her last surgery was a year ago May 30th. Right now our plan is for a few more surgeries but they should be a piece of cake compared to what she has already endured! The first one will be this coming August. She will be put under general anesthesia and do a special type of laser to try and reduce the redness around the new skin and touch up some areas. Then we wait about 2-4 months, depending on how she heals, and do another round. Dr. Vicari anticipates she will need about 3 rounds. Then he discussed with us doing dermabrasion in a few years to smooth/shave away some of the new skin around the perimeter so its all flush and hopefully not as noticeable. That would be done under general anesthesia too. Scary to think that she has been put to sleep already 4 times and we probably have 4 more ahead of us! But we have so much faith in Dr. Vicari and his decisions for her treatment plan! I need to call and schedule her surgery date. The only thing we will have to be extremely careful of is after her surgery she will NOT be able to be exposed to the sun. I will keep everyone posted when I have a date set. Cam and I never thought that this journey would be as long as it has been. We assumed when she was born with this (congenital facial nevus) that she would need 1 or 2 surgeries and be done. It’s a been a tough, longer than expected journey but we know that she is healthy and thats whats most important! Our hearts hurt when we are in public and they make comments or see people stare as we know she is absolutely beautiful inside and out!! Our hope is that we can do whatever it takes to continue to improve the look of her surgery site and it be less and less noticeable so she doesn’t have to endure any teasing when she is in school. Being in the education field Cam and I know how cruel kids can be! Thanks to all of our family and friends who continue to support us and know how difficult this has been on us!!
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