It portrays the actual story of a little girl who, with the help of her paediatric plastic surgeon prince, John Polley, MD, is now beginning to live out a fairy tale after years of dealing with a disfigured face. Real events inspired this narrative.
Jessica Jaskowiak was born with Crouzon syndrome, which stunts facial bone growth. She had bulging eyes, impaired hearing, speaking, breathing, and eating due to her sickness.
Recently, the child, who resides in Illinois and is 11 years old, went to the Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for an operation that lasted for a total of six hours. The circumstance underwent a substantial transformation as a result of this.
Exactly what is the function of Dr. Polley in this world? In order to move Jessica’s face and forehead forward, it will be necessary to implant a rigid external distraction device, which is also referred to as a RED device.
This day has been something that the family has been looking forward to for the past eleven years, all the while wondering how the transformation of their daughter’s life will be brought about by the procedure.
In order to chronicle the incredible improvement that their daughter achieved from the time before her operation till after it, Jessica’s parents, Lynn and Paul, sent an invitation to Spectrum Health Beat to perform the documentary.
According to Lynn, “We don’t mind sharing this story because there are so many people out there who have experienced things that are comparable to what we have seen.” This is a narrative that we are willing to share since there are a great number of individuals in the world who have had situations that are comparable to ours. You are aware that families of all shapes and sizes are going through difficult times, and you wish to be of assistance in some manner. At the same time that you are helping to develop a little bit more awareness, you are also making the people around you more understanding of children who are struggling with various kinds of issues.
Get ready for surgery :
Jessica, Lynn, and Paul arrive to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Plastic Surgery at 426 Michigan Street on a sweltering August Monday for their 2:00 p.m. appointment with Dr. Polley.
Jessica runs to the receptionist’s desk despite her nerves over the next day’s surgery.
She delivers a package of books, puzzles, and games to offer to Dr. Polley’s waiting room through Project Angel Eyes, her mother’s charity.
Lynn says, “she is just so compassionate and caring, and she worries so much about other kids.” “She naturally exudes maternal concern. This is likely because so many people, including her professors, therapists, and others, have looked out for her. She constantly wants to help.”
Lynn and Paul thought Jessica may reach this phase soon.
“We’ve known pretty much since the day she was born that this was pretty much the course,” Lynn recalls. We started visiting Dr. Polley when Jess was two or three. We knew we wanted a surgeon who specialised in this surgery and conducted several of them annually.
Dr. Polley pioneered paediatric plastic surgery. He created the procedure and distraction device for this life-changing operation.
This theory states that Dr. Polley will cut or shatter bone in the troublesome area, causing the body to generate new bone. He then applies metal plates and a halo-like device to stretch the area and stimulate bone growth.
For Jessica, Dr. Polley says, “we are going to advance her entire face as well as her forehead.” “Everything from the top of the head to the lower jaw is going to come forward,” stated the doctor. Jessica will have our most intensive paediatric plastic surgery procedure. If all goes well, the rewards will be huge. We can drastically change her look.”
Dr. Polley hugs Jessica after discussing the following day’s operations with Lynn and Paul during the pre-op consultation. They agreed to photos.
“She’s Hollywood all the way,” Dr. Polley laughs. “She has it all.”
Jessica invites him to look in her goodie box.
Dr. Polley slips behind the receptionist’s desk, retrieves books and puzzles from the box, and thanks Jessica for her compassion. This contradicts Lynn and Paul’s attempts to let him go citing his “busy schedule.”
She brightens as she leaves work and gets the city’s best grilled cheese sandwich before fasting begins at midnight. The Renucci Hospitality House is where Jessica and her family sleep late.
Lynn has trouble sleeping. Her thoughts races with anticipation for tomorrow. Many parents of children undergoing complex surgeries discover that the emotional toll is harsher on themselves than on their children.
Dawn arrives at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital early on operation day. Jessica, her stuffed lamb, Lynn, and Paul go to Level A surgical registration with it.
Some recommend Jessica go to Room 3. She wears a Garfield medical gown to the institution. A nurse shows socks. She chose yellow, her favourite colour. Nurse provides her soft animals to chose from. Lambie’s dog “Spunky” becomes her constant companion.
As he holds his daughter, Paul says, “Your major assignment for the day is to take it easy.”
Nursing staff members accompany patients’ families through the procedure. The anesthesiologist and Dr. Polley enter surgery.
Jessica becomes drowsy after the anesthesiologist gives her the first sedative.
After kissing her daughter on the face and forehead, Lynn immediately puts on a medical gown and mask to follow her into the operation room.
Jessica tells her pal, “You look like a doctor girl now.”
Each room’s TV plays Disney’s “Frozen” music. How fitting: “For the first time in forever, why am I so ready for this change?”
Lynn walks behind Jessica’s bed as it’s brought into the surgical room. Jessica’s undergoing surgery. She sits on a stool and holds Jessica’s hand as the anesthesiologist sedates her daughter.
Lynn says, “I’ll just be glad when it’s over,” expressing relief.
As she kisses Jessica’s face, she knows a long-awaited transformation is coming.
She prays and says, “Take good care of my girl,” to Dr. Polley and the surgical team as she leaves the operation room.
Lambie and Spunky die last. Jessica had all her operations with Lambie. Lambie waits on a gurney outside the surgical room this time.
Another Spectrum Health Medical Group paediatric plastic specialist, Dr. John Girotto, MD, is on the surgical team. Dr. Polley, wearing huge antique glasses, leads the surgical team.
Preparation takes almost an hour and a half, including sectioning and braiding Jessica’s hair, bathing her head, marking, and sewing her eyelids shut.
Dr. Girotto studies a computer-viewed three-dimensional model to determine where key incisions will be made.
He predicts future occurrences.
Dr. Polley uses a scalpel to cut Jessica’s skull crown. Surgical sponges surround the incision to absorb blood.
He spends time cutting under Jessica’s forehead incision and skin. Drs. Polley and Girotto removed the patient’s skin from the bone after attaching clips to the scalp.
Dr. Girotto previews events. Lawrence Foody, MD, a Spectrum Health neurosurgeon, will carefully cut Jessica’s skull bone to avoid her brain.
There are no food breaks for these paediatric surgeons. There are no bathroom breaks either. Their goal is to execute a complex sequence of determined activities by the operation strategy.
Dr. Polley covers Jessica’s skull hole with a metal plate. The majority of bone growth will occur here. To prevent movement, he screws the plate into the skull bone deeper.
Each eyebrow gets a screw after that. After a week of wound healing, Dr. Polley will insert the metal halo and attach the wires.
Paediatric plastic surgeon Robert Mann, MD, from Spectrum Health Medical Group checks in.
According to Dr. Mann, this operation was dangerous before Dr. Polley devised his method because of the potential of infection.
Dr. Polley carefully adjusts tissues to allow adaptation.
After attaching the halo to the patient’s head, Lynn and Paul will spin screws to progressively modify it to encourage bone development at about one millimetre each day over several weeks.
Dr. Mann remarked “this would not have been possible without Dr. Polley’s innovative thinking.” If your child sticks out, consult him.
Wrapping up :
Jessica’s motorised hospital bed has been in the surgical room for nearly five hours.
After what feels like an eternity, Dr. Polley sits down.
He says, “I’m already going over the surgery in my mind,” and he is. This is a laborious process. Overall, the squad did well. This went well, but we can’t celebrate till the mission is done. Jessica did well.”
The staff is washing Jessica’s hair and face in the operation room when Dr. Polley compliments them after 2:00 p.m. “Great job, guys,” he says.
After leaving surgery, he removes his mask and robe and prepares to greet Lynn and Paul.
In the meeting room, the parents looked fatigued. After one of their longest days, they were fatigued, relieved, and nervously excited.
Dr. Polley enters and sits. The bigger surgical glasses have been replaced with street glasses.
He tells them, “She’s doing great,” and they sigh. “Nothing could have gone better. We overcame this major challenge, therefore I won’t pop the champagne cork yet.”
He explains the next steps. Lynn and Paul must turn the screws twice a day to expand the skull and encourage bone formation after attaching the halo to the patient.
They are both nervous, but they know their route and are in this together.
One month from now, Dr. Polley promises they will be transformed.
Paul takes a break to reflect on the past and future.
He forecasts its instantaneous disappearance. It seems like 11 years have passed quickly.
They appreciate the great doctor. After Jessica recovers, they return to the surgery waiting area.
Their hopes and desires have come true, and their happy ending is coming together.
