We decided to get the umpteen stitches on S's forehead about a week later. As life happens, expect the unexpected. How long should removing stitches that have healed fairly well take? It took us about 5 hours. We packed K off to school that day and left the house at 10:00 am to the hospital. The doctor was stitching up someone at the ER and after a brief wait, came by and applied something to numb the little guy's forehead. Seeing that he was falling asleep, he gave a thumbs up for removal after 15 mins. We learnt that he is the head of plastics, with specialization in aesthetics and such. He also explained the reason for old fashioned blue thread stitches and not the fancy dissolvable ones. All made perfect sense. I love love love the doctors here, back home. No more comments on that statement. Zip!
So anyways, the nurse took him into a room and took off 1 stitch. And, the boy just woke up from sleep and jumped...he almost sat up. No one could contain him as they tried to take off 2 more. By now he was screaming his lungs out, his doctor was away for another quick procedure and another doctor rushed in. He refused to budge even a tiny bit. By now, it was time to take the big guns out and they administered a sedative. And guess what! The kid refused to go to sleep. In little increments they still managed to work with him, removing 3 at a time in 1/2 hour intervals hopelessly waiting for him to sleep. S was not crying for the pain, he was numb - but just agitated and anxious seeing the scissors and bright light and stuff. Next door OB/GYN nurse was frustrated seeing the ordeal and asked me hold him down tight - it was 1:30 pm now. They wanted us out of there. She tried ripping out one and screams were back - stronger and louder. After a few minutes, his doctor came from somewhere in scrubs and all...ripped them all out deftly. S fell asleep a second after and we got home. It was 3:00pm.
Nevertheless, thank God for His mercies and S's recovery. The mark will remain on my baby's beautiful face. A painful reminder of my inadequacy.
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