For being only 5, Jude has more scars than most people. And they all tell a story.
Left eyelid — Jude’s first scar was my fault. Jude was 2 or so and on the boat with us and wasn’t sitting down. I floored it to get my brother up barefooting and Jude fell and hit a clamp on the boom and needed 6 or 7 stitches. I feel extremely guilty to this day about this one.
Head — Jude’s 2nd scar is from the incision to remove his first brain tumor. It is at least 6 inches long and was probably 3/4 inch wide. It is bigger than it had to be because the surgeon likes to keep in the stitches longer than most. This incision is a hair-free zone since hair cannot grow through the scar tissue. The surgeon was able to use the most of the same incision from the first surgery for the 2nd surgery at the time of recurrence. The entry point for the 2nd brain surgery was a little lower and different so there is a much pinker scar at the bottom of the original head scar from the 2nd surgery. The 2nd surgery actually resulted in a smaller head scar since they were able to cut out some of the width of the first scar.
Right neck — Jude has a scar on his neck from where an IV was stitched into his neck for his first brain surgery.
Left ear — Jude has a scar on his left ear from when he was running at full speed and tripped and fell into the corner of our coffee table.
Middle of forehead — Jude has a circular scar about 5 millimeters in diameter in the smack dab middle of his forehead. This one resulted from one of the donut shaped GPS-type stickers on his forehead for brain surgery. It did not come off well and ripped off a bunch of his skin. This one irritates me since I would think it could have been avoidable if more care was taken in removing the sticker.
Left upper chest — Jude has a 1-1/2 inch, pink and raised scar on his left upper chest from where his port was placed for radiation and ultimately removed.
I like to smother his newer scars with Mederma whenever I think of it to get the best appearance possible.Â
These scars may have faded a little, but are a constant reminder of what Jude has been through. Jude doesn’t know it, but these scars get him extra hugs and kisses from me (not that he was ever hug or kiss deprived). They also get him extra treats from me since I have a hard time saying no to him. What a tough cookie!