A quick background

Hi all, Doris's mummy is writing this.

This afternoon we will go to the hospital to get ready for Doris's operation. She has gone on a school trip this morning and she was so pleased to get to go!

I thought I'd write a bit here to tell everyone why she has to have the operation. I hope it helps people to understand.

When Doris was born she was very sick. She lost a lot of weight and when she was just 10 days old she had to go to hospital for 3 days because she was so poorly. 

The doctors gave her some medicine which she had to have every time she had a bottle. It helped her a little bit but she was still very sick. There were times when she was very poorly and it was very worrying for us all.

As Doris grew up we realised she wasn't able to burp and was often in a lot of pain with heartburn. The heartburn gives her sore throats and makes her tummy feel very sore. The heartburn affects Doris's sleeping at night and makes her very sad. 

Doris had alot of tests done to find out why she has so much pain and the doctors said she has a hiatus hernia where part of her tummy comes up into her chest. That part of her tummy shouldn't be there so the doctors need to pull it back down again. When they do that they are going to mend the tube that comes out of her tummy to make sure the bit of tummy stays where it should do and that she doesn't get heartburn any more.

When Doris has had her operation she will have to be very careful about what food she eats for a while. It might get stuck where they mended the tube!
 

Doris will be in hospital for 4 or 5 days and then will need a few weeks off school. If you are her friend and you know where we live be sure to come and visit her when she gets home. She might get very lonely and will miss all her friends so much. If you can't come and visit she would love to receive some letters!

I hope this helps you to understand why Doris needs her operation.