feeling so much guilt...

[roetik77]

Cameron is just over 4 months old and filled with nothing but smiles, giggles, love and trust. I am so over the top feeling guilt and sadness for what he is facing in 10 days!!! :scared I know he "will never remember" and blah blah blah but I can't help but feel we are putting him through a nightmare. I know it's for the best and there is sadly no other choice but still... I feel like he isn't going to look at us the same after all this. Is this stupid, given that he is so young?? I just cried today looking at him and telling him how he has to be so strong and a little fighter and how much harder it will be on US than him. I can't even cope with his surgery date so quickly approaching. My eyes are swelling up as I type this and my heart is just breaking. The look of total admiration in his eyes is making things SOOOO much harder. Oh man, I really need to find the strength to get through this. :(

[Gretchen]

Oh momma, Im so sorry. This was my story, this is every other parents on this site story. The dreaded guilt, how could "we" do this to a little tiny baby??? I hated hearing "they will never remember", you will always remember and those words even ment in incoragement still hurt. Im so sorry you are having to put your baby through this but I think you are a wonderful mommy. You should look at the post op photos of the smiling babies. You will still cry but believe me, they do smile so quickly afterwords. (((BIG HUGS)))

[roetik77]

Gretchen... thank you! If one more person says "he will never remember" I fear I might flip out. I honestly don't think those would ever be my words to another parent in this situation. But I guess not living it, you don't know what to say. I know people are trying to comfort us but it's not helping. While Cameron won't remember, he will have the scars for life and WE will never forget. He still has to live it and I know they bounce back fast people say but no words help right now. BUT, I know all my fellow cranio mommies know the words of wisdom and can completely relate. I find more comfort here than anywhere else!!!

[Gretchen]

Yes, this is the best place ever. I see why now so many moms stay on long after. As we got closer to Brandon's surgery the more and more I heard that he would not remember. I finally did flip out and started answering back "how do you know he wont remember?" Part of me feels like he will always remember. Not in the way adults do but something that major does change something in these little babies, something they or we may never fully understand until their old enough to confront it.

[MBSzafranski]

That is one of the hardest things about it, for sure! It is so hard to "do this to them" when you can't explain it to them. I think that was the hardest part about handing Ben off for surgery- he was so smiley and talkative the morning of surgery. I was certain that I would never see that perfect smile again, but 24 hours later he woke up with a big smile and talking to me like nothing ever happened.

We understand where you are coming from! It is so hard to make this decision for another person. I think every one of us would go through it ourselves if we could, in order to not make our babies. You are making the best decision for your baby- keep reminding yourself of that. You will make it through and he will be back to his normal self.

Lots of hugs!

[Landie]

i dont believe that they never remember. my eldest daughter was 11 months when they operated her twice. a year later when she had to go for anonther catscan she starting having nightmares and will wake up screaming. it all started when we went back to the neurosurgeon for a checkup. and after the scan when we came home she was fine. she still have big fears for a dr and hospital.

oh hun its not your fault, and this doesnt sounds like this but you are doing the best for your baby!! just think what will happen if your baby doesn't have the surgery!

good luck and all the best

[dannlark]

Oh, Momma, it's such a hard place to be right now. Truly between a rock and a hard place. People mean well, and really they are right, even when you just want to scream in their faces that it's NOT OK!!!!! These babes, early on, really have very little memory of this event. And as parents it's our job to get them safely to the other side with cuddles and kisses and lots of strength. WE feel the guilt that they have to go through this, but they only see it as a small blip on the radar. Hang in there, and vent here when it seems overwhelming. That's what we are here for. You can do this, and so can your beautiful little bub. The othe side is SO beautiful once you're post op and in recovery... I promise!!!! You'll have your good days and the bad, and eventualy, you make it, safe and sound... (((((HUGS)))))

[123aincol3]

This is the nightmare part coming up to the surgery! I also hated that when people would say things that: ah sure she'll never remember or at least its fixable sometimes I just wanted to slap them :nono!!! I agree with Landie i dont agree that they don't remember cause Sheenagh has this phobia with her feet and it only started after her surgery cause the doc's could only get her bloods from her feet and we had to hold her down 3 different times.

You are definitely doing the right thing although it does not feel like it right now. But our little uns do bounce back although I didn't believe that either lol!

Big Hugs to you and your family!

[charliesmummy]

This is deffinately the toughest part, the last couple of weeks.
I remember it so well as though it was yesterday & it's 3 years ago in september. The thoughts & fears that fly through your mind, the worry & the guilt of what your about to do to your beautiful little baby.
I can only say that you are not alone in what you are feeling & to asure you that your fears are perfectly normal. Doesnt make it easier i know, but when the time comes you will find the strength from within to get you through and your beautiful little man will amaze you in so many ways you will just burst with pride.

Hang in there sweetie, we are here with you every step of the way xxx

[craniomommynbaby]

I had cranio surgery as a baby, and I do not remember it. The first time I have conscious memories of knowing about my cranio was when my mother stopped me from playing t-ball in second grade. I didn't understand why I could not play, and she had to explain to me that I had a soft spot still in my head. I didn't find out as much about the surgery until further down the road.
Having had to put my son through the same surgery, I reflected quite a bit on my own experience. Although I do not have a recollection of the events, I really think that the experience helped to make me who I am today, and it is not a bad thing at all.
In Simon's case, he had it at 6 months, but I do not feel that he has had any long-term effects. Now, I know he will remember the surgery he had last year, at 4-1/2 years old. Still, if someone meets him today with no knowledge, they have no idea. His personality did not change. He is still my sweet and loving little boy, just as I am sure your Cameron will be. The next couple of weeks will be rough on you, but you will see just how quickly these kids bounce back.

[Janet]

I felt the same way....so much guilt leading up to the surgery, but I look at her 2-1/2 years later and all I feel is joy....I know that I made the best decision for her, sometimes it's so hard being a Mom...we are the ones that feel guilty about EVERYTHING, that's part of our job. :hugg :hugg

You're almost there, I promise that Cameron will be fine and soon after you'll have your giggly, smilling baby back!!

[Nezzy]

I completely understand what you are going through. I was the same way with people who said, "he'll never remember". I still get mad just thinking about it. I can PROMISE you that he will not look at you differently after this surgery. He will bond with you more than ever. I worried about this exact thing. I also had the same guilty feelings. I still get sad when I look at a picture I took of Nick the day we got to Texas. He as so excited and giggly and happy and just thought we were there to have fun. But today, he is still that same happy go lucky baby. Honestly, just 3 days after surgery he was back to his smiley self!!! Cameron will amaze you. You are doing the right thing for him. When he is a teenager he will thank you for doing this for him. Hang in there.

[Sawyer's_Mom]

Just sending you hugs and comfort...that's all I can offer since we're still waiting on our surgery too. I know how you feel. People do mean well, but I like it better when they don't say anything at all. When I talk to the people around me I've learned to put on my happy face and fluff the surgery off like they do so they leave me alone and don't think I need the comforting words. It sounds kind of cold, but they don't understand and I don't want to hear them. That's why we have this place. Words of comfort on here are truly that...a comfort! You can't not believe the Mom's on here when they say it will be ok and your little one will be the same to you.

Big hugs to you!! It is so hard not to feel guilty because they look at us with so much love and trust. But, they look at you that way and trust you because you do everything in your power to do the best for them. And you are, even though it's hard to believe right now. You're almost there! Your a wonderful and strong Mom!!

[*Jessica*]

I hated those mind numbing days before surgery. It is surely one of the most difficult parts of this cranio coaster to stomach. I do promise you that once you see your sweet baby after surgery...it all gets better. You will be amazed by the strength your LO will show, and as Heather said, they DO get back to themselves. I know how hard these next 9 days will be, but we are here for you...even if it is just to be a place for you to sit at your computer and cry with some ladies who have BTDT. :hugg