Dear Family and Friends,
I apologize that this update is so long in coming. In the midst of everything, our computer broke and is off somewhere being fixed :-( So our access to the Internet has been limited lately.
The rollercoaster ride continues and unfortunately we find ourselves on one of the big bumps. After becoming infected and put back on the ventilator last Thursday, Everett pulled out his breathing tube on Saturday. He had just been given sedation and unfortunately this took effect in the minutes after he pulled out the tube, resulting in him suddenly becoming too tired to breathe. The respiratory therapist and nurse used an ambu-bag (those blue things you see on ER with the face mask attached) to breathe for him until the doctor arrived to put his breathing tube back in. The side effect of this whole ordeal was a belly full of air (because air goes into the stomach as well as the lungs when using an ambu-bag). So now he has a very distended belly and isn't moving his bowels. He received another enema today...and we're hoping for results!
After six days of antibiotics, Everett's infection really hadn't improved. He was still acting very sick (meaning he was lethargic and had body temperature instability). The doctors had ordered cultures from everywhere hoping to find the responsible bacteria. None were found. So the doctors started to think of other possibilities and decided to test Everett for a viral infection. Today we got the BIG NEWS. Everett has Influenza A. I'm sure many of you are following the news on this year's flu season and there is a definite possibility that it could be H1N1 Swine Flu. But we won't know those results until tomorrow. We are feeling a little relieved to know the source of his infection but are scared that it is the Flu. The NICU has never had a baby infected with Influenza before, so we are all learning together. Everett was started on Tamiflu this afternoon, but as is true of viral infections, there isn't too much active treatment. You just have to support the body until it is able to recover. This is what our current plan is.
He will remain on the ventilator for a while longer, until he shows signs of feeling well enough to come off. He isn't eating breast milk because of his large belly, so he is getting another PICC line placed this afternoon. After that, they will begin to give him artificial nutrition again.
We are shocked and a little relieved at the news today. At least we know what he has and the course of treatment. He is doing well on the ventilator and is resting comfortably for the most part. We haven't held him in 12 days, but know that it is necessary for him to save his energy.
We are trying to keep positive...this is just a bump in a long road. We tell ourselves, "This too shall pass." He's a strong little man and we know he can fight this. We are thankful for the doctors and nurses who everyday take amazing care of him as if he were their own son. We are thankful for all of you who think of and pray for him! We are thankful for our families who support us when we falter. On Thanksgiving, we are giving thanks for so many things!!! We wish you all a wonderful holiday!
Happy Thanksgiving,
The Bollinger Family
No comments:
Post a Comment