27 Back to Bristol

In February Mason underwent surgery at the Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital, and we’re relieved to share that the operation was successful in achieving exactly what the surgeons had hoped for, a partial splenectomy.

The goal of the surgery was to remove the unknown growth in Mason’s spleen while preserving as much of the organ as possible. This was important because the spleen plays a significant role in supporting the immune system. Going into the operation, we knew there was a real possibility the surgeons might need to remove the entire spleen if complications occurred, particularly because of the risk of severe bleeding during the procedure. 

Despite that reassurance, the lead-up to the surgery was understandably anxious for us as parents. It meant another open operation for Mason, another significant scar across his body, and another moment where we might receive news we hoped never to hear again. Even though the scans had been reassuring, the only way to truly understand the nature of the growth was to remove it and examine the tissue.

We arrived in Bristol the evening before the surgery to get settled. At 8am the next morning we made our way to the hospital, with Mason in a fasted state ready for surgery. We were taken to Daisy Ward, which cares for burns patients and children requiring high-dependency care.

He went down to theatre at around 11am, and then the waiting began. For him, it would be only moments under anesthetic; for us, it was hours without any sense of when the call would finally come to say the operation was complete. We filled the time much as we had during his first surgery. Having fasted alongside him, we went straight out for breakfast, strangely, to the very same place as before. It felt as though we were following a familiar routine. Afterwards, we wandered around a few shops in Bristol, picking up bits the children needed and something small for Paige to thank her for being so supportive. We took our time, stretching out the walk to keep busy, before heading back to the hotel for a coffee.

A short while later, the phone rang... “Unknown Caller.”The operation is complete. We are all finished here. Mason is being moved to recovery and you’ll be able to see him shortly. It went well, as well as we could have hoped.

The first few days after surgery were slow, as Mason gradually worked through the early stages of recovery. Day 1 was mostly spent sleeping while his body recovered from the surgery and anesthetic. By Day 2, he was making small movements, trying to roll or turn so the nurses could help change his clothes. On Day 3, he managed to sit up for the first time and take a few small sips of water. Day 4 brought a brief stand and the first small attempts at eating again. By Day 5, he was able to take a few careful steps around the ward while his appetite continued to improve, and doctors began reducing the morphine and removing some of the direct pain relief connected to the surgical site. On Day 6, the focus was on making sure his digestive system was working comfortably and removing the remaining lines attached to his body. After a final review, we were told he could return home on light duties.

Now that we are home, the focus shifts fully to recovery. Mason will need around six weeks of careful healing, avoiding sudden movements or any impact to his core so the surgical site can properly repair.

At his age, this is easier said than done.

Part of him understands exactly what has happened and is protective of his body. But there is also the six-year-old boy who looks out the window, sees his friends playing football or riding bikes, and wants nothing more than to be outside with them.

For now, we’re taking recovery one day at a time. The most important thing is that the surgery achieved what we hoped for… removing the growth while preserving part of his spleen. We are incredibly grateful to the surgical and nursing teams who cared for him, and to everyone who continues to support Mason on this journey.

The next step will be waiting for the histology results, which will tell us exactly what the growth was. Until then, we focus on helping Mason rest, heal, and slowly get back to being the energetic little boy he has always been.