Anyone else with a young child? HELP!

Hi! My surgery is coming up 18 SHORT days from now (Oct. 22nd). I'm not too terribly nervous (yet!) about the surgery itself. Rather, I'm more anxious and upset about having to leave my baby daughter (she'll be 16-months-old on the 27th) for the duration of my hospital stay. Does anyone else with an upcoming surgery date have a young child at home? Or did any of you out there have surgery already while your child was still a baby? I really need to hear from other moms out there. I need to know how best to cope with this separation. My daughter and I are very, very attached to one another. She's slept on my chest everyday since the day she was born! I'm worried to death about how she'll cope without mommy around. And I'm so afraid that she'll think Mommy's never coming home. This, not the surgery, is what has had me crying everyday since I learned my surgery date. I'm also becoming terrified that something awful (i.e. death) will happen to me, either during surgery or in the 30 days that follow, and I'll have to leave my little girl forever. I know that the statistics are in my favor (less than 1%), but I've often been one of those weirdo statistics, like the one person in 200,000 who gets such and such an illness. Maybe I'm just being irrational, but I'm getting really, really scared. On the flip side, though, I know that my death will be certain if I do not have this surgery. Anyone else having (or did you have) these feelings?? Please get in touch!! Thanks! Amy

AMY I HAVE A 16 MONTH OLD AN ONLY CHILD IAM SCARED TO BUT I KNOW IMUST GET TO AHEALTHY WEIGHT IF IKEEP GOING LIKE IAM IWILL DIE AND LEAVE HIM MOTHERLESS SO I WOUILD RATHER TAKE MY CHANCES AND HOPEFULLY COME OUT HEALTHY FOR HIM WE ALL TAKE AGAMBLE IN LIFE EVERY DAY IF IT IS OUR TOME TO GO WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP DEATH JUST KEEP FAITH IN GOD AND YOUR SURGEON AND HANG INTHERE IF ICAN HELP IN ANY WAY PLEASE E MAIL ME P.S. I AM HAVEING SURGERY ON 10-09-03

Amy, I think your Daughter will do better than you. lol, You have been there for her and she knows it. If you can, the hospital should let her visit or if you have a video recorder tape messages and sing songs. I have two girls and I taped a message for them and also wrote a letter, so if something was to happen, they will have it forever. THat is my suggestion. You will be ok. Do not be too anxious because she will sense your feelings. Also, tape record or burn a CD with her voice and take it with you. (Plus smething that smells of her.) Good luck on your journey.Keep your chin up.....Mine is Monday10/6/03. Peace and Prayers.....

Amy, I am a mother of 4 children and I also am very scared that something may happen and I am also a divorced mother. I know my children will be taken cared of but, I've been here for them their entire lives. I've been here though in an unhealthy state. I can't run or play with them in a park and you know I can't ride a bike! I want to do all of those things and more! You gotta believe that everything will be o.k! My date is the 17th of October and I will talk to you again from the other side. Valerie

Amy, I have a 3 year old son and have also been experiencing a lot of the same fears that you have. I just have to keep faith that nothing bad will happen to me and I also feel like a few days apart from him is a small price to pay for the life that we have ahead of us! I have given my son pcitures of me to have close to him while I'm gone. And I do agree that it will probably be harder on me than on him! Are children deserve to have us healthy. That is what I keep telling myself as I head to surgery this thrusday Oct 9. Best of luck with your surgery and your new life! God Bless, Jennifer

I have a three year old daughter that I love with everything that I have. I waited until late in life to have her, and I can't bear to be separated from her. I've made the decision to have the surgery for HER; otherwise, she will have to take care of me as I get sicker and sicker from diabetes - dialysis, or worse, I'm sure. Surgery is scheduled for the 13th of this month, and right now I am at my parents' house in Nashville. They, and my brother and sister, will care for my daughter for about a month while I recuperate. I will miss her, and she will miss me, too. The good news is, that as long as mother and child are reunited, the short period of separation will pass into memory, and the happy reunion will wipe away all the fears and tears. I'm scared, too - I'm sure we all are as we get closer and closer to the date. My family is helping by taking care of my young'un, but they are dead-set against the surgery....we've had several big fights, but I think my determination has worn them down. We've both got to look to the future to get through the present to unburden ourselves of the fat of the past. I'll be praying for you and your daughter.