2 Month Update with next surgery looming

Lauren has been doing very well since the last surgery. So much so, that we forget that she even had the procedure done. The ear seems to be healing well and every couple of weeks we send pictures to Dr. Lewin and she is pleased with it's healing. We met last week with Dr. Motoki. He is the doctor that will be doing the jaw distraction surgery on July 28th. The surgery is intended to lengthen her jaw on the left side. She has been wearing an expander on the roof of her mouth for a few months that has been straightening out her bite and hopefully by lengthening the jaw, she will have a level bite. She will more than likely need braces when she is older. The surgery is only going to be about 2 hours long, but she will have to stay in the hospital for at least two days. They will make an incision in her jaw bone and insert internally a distractor device. This will apply pressure on both sides of the incision to help lengthen the jaw. Everything will be done through the inside of her mouth. She will have a rod that will come down on the outer side of the skin below her jaw. This will be used to turn the device once or twice daily to apply added pressure. We will have to turn the device for approximately two weeks. After that, the jaw should be the length they want it. She will wear the distractor for about 2 months total as the jaw and new bone that fills in will have to harden fully. We are happy that we don't have to travel as far and that the surgery will be less time, but this will be the first time she will have to stay overnight in the hospital. The surgery will be done at Primary's Childrens hospital.