6.5 Hours of Meticulous Grafting

Whitney (12:19pm PST, Friday, 4/22/22)

Pepper is doing well! The surgery was so long, it lasted 6.5 hours. She had 2 doctors working on her at once. The eye brow release surgery was done to her right eye. It will be sewn shut for 5 days (Tuesday). Her forehead was grafted and had a bolster to hold the graft on also for 5 days. 

Her chest/neck area has been grafted along with her left shoulder and upper arm. She also had a small area on her right hip that was grafted. The area on her legs was too deep as anticipated. Integra (derived from shark cartilage) was placed on both areas on the shin. It is an integrative skin substitute and the hope is it will allow the skin to fill in and heal on its own. Her back was sprayed with re-cell. Essentially, her own skin in a spray can. 

All of the grafts were meticulously sewn on. In the past they have been stapled. The Dr. That was on yesterday wanted to sew them this time to ensure the grafts success.  

Pepper won’t have a sedated dressing change or shower for up to a week! But, she also needs to stay in bed and as still as she can for about 4 days. This may be one of the last “big” surgeries she has during this hospital stay, if we can keep the bacteria at bay.