Wednesday, December 14th
We made a very difficult decision today to go ahead with the tracheotomy procedure. Will went into surgery around 12:30 this afternoon, and he did very well.
Before putting in the trach, his doctor performed a bronchoscopy to look at his airway structures. It turns out that he had some scar tissue that was flopping back and forth as he breathed. Putting in the trach is the only way to let the scar tissue heal. There was no way he would have been able to get off the ventilator without this procedure.
There really is no way to tell how long he will require a trach... it could be 4-6 months, a year or two... who knows? It depends on a several factors.
We will need nursing care when he goes home, which should be in the next 3-4 weeks. (hard to believe!) We will need a nurse to come at night so we can sleep! We hope our insurance will cover it... the hospital is going to call them to see. We anticipate that they will... they have been great thus far.
I will keep you updated on how everything goes. Josh & I now have to concentrate on learning how to care for the trach, and possibly how the ventilator works... if Will needs it. They have given us a book, a video, and a trach doll.
The good part of all of this is that next week, (just in time for Christmas), we will be able to hold him. We can hardly wait!!
Before putting in the trach, his doctor performed a bronchoscopy to look at his airway structures. It turns out that he had some scar tissue that was flopping back and forth as he breathed. Putting in the trach is the only way to let the scar tissue heal. There was no way he would have been able to get off the ventilator without this procedure.
There really is no way to tell how long he will require a trach... it could be 4-6 months, a year or two... who knows? It depends on a several factors.
We will need nursing care when he goes home, which should be in the next 3-4 weeks. (hard to believe!) We will need a nurse to come at night so we can sleep! We hope our insurance will cover it... the hospital is going to call them to see. We anticipate that they will... they have been great thus far.
I will keep you updated on how everything goes. Josh & I now have to concentrate on learning how to care for the trach, and possibly how the ventilator works... if Will needs it. They have given us a book, a video, and a trach doll.
The good part of all of this is that next week, (just in time for Christmas), we will be able to hold him. We can hardly wait!!
posted by Stephanie Burns @ 6:20 PM
6 Comments:
At 6:48 PM,
Anonymous said…
Our hearts are full of love for you three. Will is in our constent prayers for God's healing hand to be on him. And to continue to comfort and strenghten each of you.
I know you can't wait to hold your little angel, how special that will be.
WE love ya'll so much.
Love Uncle Joe, Aunt Becky, Adam and Andrea.
At 10:32 PM,
Anonymous said…
It was so wonderful to see our sweet Will's little face so much better today! What a precious boy! Love you all bunches!!
Love,
Kirk/Mom/Grandmama
At 6:44 AM,
Anonymous said…
I just finished another long prayer for the three of you. I know it will help. They always do!
ggd perdue
At 7:08 AM,
Anonymous said…
I can't wait to see him without a vent tube in his mouth! Won't be long before we can all hold him. Love you all so much. God's strength and grace on you. Keep growing, Will! How much does he weigh now?
At 8:14 AM,
Jay said…
God has promised He will never give us more than we can handle, so Will must be SOME fighter -- and the two of you as well. (Remember this when he's a "terrible two"!) We are praying for God's healing and for you to know you are surrounded by His Spirit of light and love.
At 9:34 AM,
Anonymous said…
Will is up to a whopping 7 pounds!! And he is, by all nurse's accounts, quite fiesty! And a wiggler! It is so funny how he is able to get himself sideways in his crib-- wiggling to get closer to Mommy, I think! I know he is also looking forward to cuddling up!
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