Managing Parks post facial operation??

[gertiesquidge]

Hi everyone,

Our Middle daughter (aged 11) had a major operation on her nose and lip just before Christmas and now has to avoid anything banging into/touching her face for the next eight weeks. Her surgeon has said it is ok for her to go on our holiday (phew!!) BUT I'm wondering how we can manage to keep her safe during the holiday. The slightest touch to her nose has her in tears it hurts that much, and I'm not sure if it will be possible to keep her completely safe when queuing for example. We have been planning this holiday for about three years and I want us all to have a great time, but don't want to risk Middly's health for a few weeks of fun :-( Any suggestions please??

Thanks and best wishes from a VERY worried

[OKWTink]

Gosh. That's a tough question. There are so many chances for accidental contact with others, I wouldn't know where to begin to keep her from coming in contact with other guests.

I guess I'm not much help am I? The only thing I can think of is to keep her surrounded by family who know and understand, but that's no guarantee either.

However, if it hurts her that much to be touched, she'll be working hard to keep herself from coming in contact with others too.

All the best to you!

[triciacarole]

I guess you've got 20 days, it may not be so sore by then, but I pretty much agree with OKWTink try to surround her with your family. You should also consider a strong sunblock for that area as the skin will be very sensitive. Hope this helps.

[justine]

The best thing I could think of (but not sure if daughter would agree to it) is to get a wheelchair for her at the parks people would move out of the way for fear of squashed toes and she could always kick them if they dont. And to avoid any problems at the airport speak to the check in agent at the desk and arrange for a pre-board at the gate. Which airline are you travelling with?

[PaulaK]

Personally I wouldn't do the wheelchair option. I lost count of the number of times people swung round with big packpacks on and whacked my youngest daughter in the face without thinking. :grrr: The higher her face the better for that reason. The best I can think of is for the family to surround her and spread out to give her space. Hope all goes well for you and your daughter feels much better very soon. My DD had a facial op (cleft palate) and her mouth was very tender for a few weeks but she made a speedy recovery. Good luck :thumbs:

[gertiesquidge]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your replies :-)

The surrounding her with family and trying to keep a space round her was more or less what we had decided to do. I don't think she would agree to sitting in a wheelchair and the risk of being smacked round the face by a backpack is too great anyway - it happened to her a few times last time we went and she was in a buggy!!

Triciacarole - I'm very fair skinned and always use baby suncream (factor 50!) so will use that on Middly too - thanks for the advice :-)

Justine - we are flying with Virgin and will definitely ask them if she can board earlier than the rest of the flight to avoid knocks while people are fighting to stuff the overhead lockers. I hadn't thought of that so thank you for suggesting it :-)

PaulaK - Middly was born with a cleft lip and palate, and this operation was to further correct her nose/lip. The tenderness will probably be lessened by the time we go, but the risk of damage to the operation site is there for at least the next eight weeks. So even when it stops hurting so much we will still have to watch her like hawks!!

Thanks again everyone for your help and advice - I'm feeling a lot calmer now!! Till I find something else to panic about anyway!!!

Take care

[PaulaK]

PaulaK - Middly was born with a cleft lip and palate, and this operation was to further correct her nose/lip. The tenderness will probably be lessened by the time we go, but the risk of damage to the operation site is there for at least the next eight weeks. So even when it stops hurting so much we will still have to watch her like hawks!!

Thanks again everyone for your help and advice - I'm feeling a lot calmer now!! Till I find something else to panic about anyway!!!

Take care

I'm sure all will be fine but I know it's a worry. :hug: DD saw her surgeon last month to plan her next op but they have decided to wait until she is 11 too (she's 9) and her face has grown more.

Hope you all have a fab holiday!! :micbounce

[gertiesquidge]

Hi everyone,

I got hold of Virgin today and they have put a note on our booking that we will be allowed priority boarding. That is a big relief as it means we can get Middly sat down safely before everyone starts fighting to put their stuff in the overhead lockers!!

Upgraded our annual travel insurance policy too, so that anything to do with Middly's operation is now covered too. Hopefully we won't need it but it gives me peace of mind knowing she is covered now if we do need it, especailly as American health care is so expensive!

PaulaK - I hope your dd's next operation goes well, give her mine and Middly's best wishes and if she wants to talk to someone who has 'been there done that' send me a PM and I'll pass it on to Middly :-)

Take care everyone

[PaulaK]

Awww thanks :hug:

Good that you have the insurance and priority boarding sorted :thumbs: You can start getting excited now :excited:

[bawden2]

Could you not use fastpass for as much as you can as the queues may not be as bad. I would also have a word with the parks. They may be able to help. They can only say they can not help at the worst and you have lost nothing. Go to guest services when you arrive at your first day with Disney and also Universal studios.

[gertiesquidge]

Hi Bawden,

Fast Pass is definitely something we will be using, and I'm hoping that by spending less time in the queues that it will be safer for Middly :-)

I never thought of going to Guest Services!! I thought they could only help with people with major disabilities, not something like my daughters problem!! Like you say we can't lose anything by trying - so we will probably go and visit them as see what they say. Thank you very much for the advice :-)

I'm getting SO EXCITED now!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you again

[bawden2]

Hope you have a wonderful holiday. If i am right they have different types of special assistants passes and they go by what is the problem. A note from your doctor could help. Doctors are normally quite happy to write something for you that you can show. Ask either the surgeon or gp. Disney like to keep all the guests as happy as they can. Unhappy guests are not good in their eyes. You may be able to say something like we are happy to wait just worried about standing in a queue. Americans hate discrimiating (sorry spelt wrong)