Kiana was holding a paperback with a smiling Miley Cyrus on the cover. She had been carrying the book everywhere for days. Deane said it was Kiana's security blanket, comforting her the way a teddy bear would for other children.
Kiana changed into hospital pajamas, and after some routine blood work was directed to a waiting area for surgical patients.
Before climbing onto a gurney, Kiana joined hands with her mother and prayed that the doctors would make no mistakes. She lay in bed flipping TV stations with a remote control.
"Just like a hotel," Deane said. She slipped off her daughter's sneakers and tickled her feet. Kiana burst into giggles, instinctively covering her mouth with her bedsheet.
At 7:30 a.m., an attendant wheeled Kiana to surgery. Deane leaned over and gave Kiana a kiss. Deane retreated to the waiting room, interrupting her nervous vigil to buy flowers and some magazines for Kiana.
Nearly eight hours later, Deane was summoned to the surgical floor and directed into a small conference room.
The surgery had gone well. It would leave a faint scar in front of Kiana's left ear, but that would be hidden by her hair.
As she waited for Kiana to emerge from surgery, Deane looked through the doorway into the long hallway and, unexpectedly, caught of glimpse of Kiana being wheeled into the recovery room.
Deane smiled, relieved that this first part of what would be a long ordeal was over.
Kiana, unconscious from the anesthetic, lay peacefully on the gurney, her face framed in a mop of soft curls.
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denise.gellene@latimes.com
