This was me at age 13. I have the scars to prove it.
Orthopedic surgeons are varied, and hospitals will only allow certain ones to do certain things. First off is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. These are rare. (I LIVED in the hospital for the first 6 years of my life constantly under the knife)
Tumors happen, and most tumors (like 90% or something high) are not cancerous. I’m riddled with them. None of them are cancerous.
Tumors are caused by a screwed up DNA strand. Things grow where they shouldn’t grow. It can be any number of things, few of those things are things to worry about, really.
Certain debris can be left alone for debriding. Debriding sand is probably the second most painful experience for a kid. The first would certainly be a spinal tap. But it’s excruciating and it’s lasting. Sand and dirt aren’t necessarily bacteria-riddled and they may have done cleaning without removing all of the sand. That debriding may need her to be knocked out under anesthesia. If that’s the case, a pediatric anesthesiologist is rarer than a pediatric orthopedic doctor.
They’ll need her calm and getting the 24 hour prep for surgery. If you move her that prep starts all over. Emergency surgery is VERY risky without the proper pre-op.. especially for a kid. I woke up during my leg surgery when I was 12 and .. lets just say I remember it.
Stay calm. Talk to people. Allow the staff to pre-op her.
Thanks for your explanation about pediatric orthopedics. I did not know that. I learned a lot from your post and will pass it on to my sister. I pray my niece has some sort of pain relief meds. As I explained, there is an estrangement from the mother with the rest of us. (Me, her mother and her 2 brothers) We only have contact with Alyssa.