The morning of Stella had a temp of 101. I dosed her with liquid aspirin and prayed her temp dropped in time.

I did not want to have to reschedule the surgery. That would mean she would have to miss school and deal with the bullies that made fun of her looks.

She has to be able to drink, swallow and use the bathroom before they let her leave.

Even after three years I still remember what she told me. But she got even ten minutes after this picture by peeing on my foot.

When they cut the roof of her mouth open they found an errant tooth growing sideways.

They had to remove the tooth. Then they took the bone graft from the hip and placed in the roof of her mouth and stitched it back up.

Eight hours ofter surgery I was ready to go. The nurse came in and took a temp. Stella was at 102 and would not release her till the next morning. I was not prepared for that and did not bring my tooth brush. Was going to be a long night sleeping in a chair.

You see the light gray area on the X-Ray? That is where the bone graft would be. The point is the bone will then grow and give the roof structure.

Fever went down and she was released in the morning. We got home and she had to rinse with antibiotic mouthwash.

She also was on anti-swelling meds. Her pain factor was on the 8 side. She said her hip hurt more then the mouth.

I had asked her. She was mad I did this to her.

I explained to her that this was her mothers last wish on Earth. That I would fix her and make her look like all the other girls in the world.