I Wore My Surgeon Hat Today

Big Baby became part of the family on Stella’s first birthday and almost 7 years later she is still a big part of the family. Big Baby has come with us on airplanes, road trips (she wears her seat belt just like everyone else in the car), sleep-overs, trains, subways, Broadway shows, the movies, bike rides (in the basket of course), hikes, boat rides and many a meal out. I am not sure how she came to be called Big Baby, she just did and Stella has never wanted to change it. It reminds me of my days living in the South when friends would refer to their grandmother as Big Mama.

I first started performing surgery when Fluffy came home injured. You see, Fluffy was abandoned in a children’s clothing store that Stella and Grammy were browsing in and it was love at first sight between Stella and Fluffy. Fluffy had been through some rough times and had several rips on her body, but with some white thread and a sewing needle, she was fixed up in no time! That is the day that mama, that’s me, started wearing her surgeon hat, among my many other hats that I put on in the course of life.

On Monday it was realized that Big Baby was injured in three places and would definitely need to have surgery. She had broken her right arm in one place and her left arm in two places. Big Baby was admitted to the hospital and the necessary preparations were made – finding the proper thread and needle.

This morning surgery was performed – Big Baby was very brave and I am happy to say it was a success. I put my surgical gloves on, my mask (need to be especially careful of germs) and then taking my surgical tools, needle and thread, I carefully inserted the needle into the right arm. I completed the right arm and then went on to do the two breaks in the left arm. It was a little difficult closing the breaks since one side was cloth and the other cloth and plastic, but I persevered and was able to close the breaks.

Big Baby is recovering nicely and she should be able to resume her regular activities by early this evening!