Winnie the Pooh's surgery (not to be confused with our dog, Winnie)

It's taken me while to post this, not sure why. For those of you who haven't met my mom, this might explain a lot about where I come from. For those who have met her, well, this shouldn't come as a surprise. From my mom, Dr. Grandma, this spring:

 

pre-op

 "Aidan must have heard about Dick Cheney’s heart transplant and figured that if Cheney can be revitalized, perhaps there was hope for his Winnie the Pooh bear's mangled left ear. 
Winnie the Pooh had suffered irreversible damage to the left ear at the hands (or teeth) of some wild creature (aka our old dog, Poppy).  Wishing to have his beloved stuffed friend restored to near normalcy, Aidan agreed to a total ear transplant.  Unfortunately, an exact match could not be found, but it is one of life’s lessons that no one is perfect. 

 

 

before

Winnie was a very agreeable patient who easily accepted the IV or IF (intra-fur) without any fuss.  A localized anesthetic was used during surgery as it was necessary to talk to the patient to determine auditory ability.  The excision went smoothly and the open cranial cavity exposed brain tissue for only a short time.   Therefore, any brain damage should be minimal.   

exposed brain tissue

 Attaching the new appendage went as planned and the prognosis is good.  There may be some residual scarring, but that may diminish with time.  At this point it is assumed that Winnie’s hearing will be restored to the level it had prior to the vicious attack.  As you can see from the photos, the patient is alert in the recovery room.

Aftercare:  While caressing and hugging of the recovering patient is encouraged, excessive tugging and pulling of the new ear should be avoided.  The patient is ready for discharge today. 

PS.  Your HMO has paid all expenses except your deductible:  Two kisses and a big hug due at the time of patient discharge."