Today is the DAY!!!! The doctor came in and checked on Daniel this morning and declared that we can go home! His breathing is greatly improved, and his blood oxygen has stayed in the mid-90s since yesterday. They're doing up the paperwork now, which I know can still take a while, and then we can clear out after that. ***breaking news*** As I was typing that last sentence, the nurse came in with the discharge papers, so we're all signed out! She also took off "the glove" and gave him the non-bloody part to take home. They are giving him one farewell breathing treatment while I'm packing things up.
Again, thank you all so much for all the prayers and well-wishes. We know several people who are much more regular visitors to pediatric wards than we are, and while I have always respected these folks, my admiration has increased dramatically over the past 3+ days. I would say I don't know where you find the strength, but honestly, I believe that Jesus answers our prayers, and the people I'm referring to all have friends praying for them. Thanks again, everyone! We're going home now.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Daniel Update 7
This one will be brief. Daniel's breathing is greatly improved, according to all the nurses who listen to him. He's had a good appetite, been drinking lots of fluids, and been able to *ahem* clear gunk out of his lungs and nose. He even got to move around a good bit and play in the playroom they have. He even got to play Spiderman 3 on the Playstation 2 that they have here, and I let him stay up WAY too late watching movies tonight. I only hope I haven't prevented him from getting all the rest that he needs, but he was having a good time, and there's got to be some reward for having such a great attitude this whole time, right?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Daniel Update 6
One more day, at least. That's the latest word. The doctor says Daniel is improved (not gasping for breath anymore, even hours after his treatments), but still has some wheezing and a lot of congestion that he wants to get cleared up before sending us out into the world. Also, the much-mentioned blood oxygen levels are hovering in the 93-94 range. Honestly, I've never heard so much talk of "O2 Sats" in all my life, and I hope I never do again. Still, he's well enough to be off the IV fluids, so he's a little more free to move around the room and hall, not to mention finally getting to play his DS! Right now he's still playing games on my iPhone, but he's excited about the possibilities. The doctor did mention that once we do go home, he's going to want Daniel to see an allergist so that we can maybe prevent whatever triggered this thing from happening again in the future, or at least keep it manageable from home.
Daniel's spirits remain high, although honestly I think he's a fairly contented child in general. Give him a video game, a fun movie, or some Legos and he's good. Plus no schoolwork; that seems to be a bonus in his view. He was upset when the doctor said we'd be here another day, but he moved past it pretty quickly with some breakfast and Curious George on the TV. So, to sum up: one more day, needs more blood oxygen and less congestion, needs less wheezing and more DS-playing. Thanks again for all the prayers, everyone. I have a sneaking suspicions they're largely responsible the improvement thus far, and for our continued sanity.
Daniel's spirits remain high, although honestly I think he's a fairly contented child in general. Give him a video game, a fun movie, or some Legos and he's good. Plus no schoolwork; that seems to be a bonus in his view. He was upset when the doctor said we'd be here another day, but he moved past it pretty quickly with some breakfast and Curious George on the TV. So, to sum up: one more day, needs more blood oxygen and less congestion, needs less wheezing and more DS-playing. Thanks again for all the prayers, everyone. I have a sneaking suspicions they're largely responsible the improvement thus far, and for our continued sanity.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Daniel Update 5
So, now we play the waiting game... I'm really bad at this particular game. Daniel is doing well, as far as I can tell. He's had a lot more food and water today than yesterday, and (*warning for the squeamish* - potentially gross parts coming up; skip ahead to the next sentence if you need to) he's been getting stuff out of his nose and coughing stuff up successfully all afternoon and evening. The nurses say this is good, that he's moving the problem out of his lungs. The only real issue (aside from still having a slight wheeze) seems to be that his blood oxygen levels have continued to hover around the low end of OK, which is a problem in that if he needs to be given oxygen again, then we'd have to stay yet another night, which would be pretty bad for team morale. So, please pray that Daniel's blood oxygen levels get back to normal on their own and stay consistent so that we can go home. Also, please pray that there would be no trace of a wheeze, and that he'd be able to breathe normally.
Thank you all so much. We have been amazed at the amount of heartfelt encouragement and support we've been getting. What a blessing, to have such friends and family. Thank you.
Thank you all so much. We have been amazed at the amount of heartfelt encouragement and support we've been getting. What a blessing, to have such friends and family. Thank you.
Daniel Update 4
Daniel's doctor checked on him this morning and said he's doing much better. He also ordered Daniel's IV turned down since he didn't seem to be wanting to eat or drink much. He did have some pancakes this morning, and he seemed excited about the lunch and dinner possibilities. Everyone says he's sounding better, and his blood oxygen has stayed at 95 since they gave him the oxygen last night. He's not struggling for breath nearly as much as yesterday, although he's still not up to perfect. The doctor said that frequently when these attacks come on suddenly, it ends up being a couple of days before the child is back to normal. He also said that Daniel is doing better than he'd expected, so that's good.
Daniel's been in good spirits this whole time, although he's getting tired of wearing the "glove" (the IV is held in place with a mesh wrap around his wrist and hand), since it prevents him from playing video games and it itches. For now, though, he's entertaining himself with movies on my computer, and an iPhone game I have that doesn't require him to use his right hand. At this point, I expect we'll be able to leave tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. Daniel was impressed that I kept being able to tell him new people who are hoping and praying for his quick recovery. His parents really appreciate it, too.
Daniel's been in good spirits this whole time, although he's getting tired of wearing the "glove" (the IV is held in place with a mesh wrap around his wrist and hand), since it prevents him from playing video games and it itches. For now, though, he's entertaining himself with movies on my computer, and an iPhone game I have that doesn't require him to use his right hand. At this point, I expect we'll be able to leave tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. Daniel was impressed that I kept being able to tell him new people who are hoping and praying for his quick recovery. His parents really appreciate it, too.
Daniel Update 3
It's 12:45am. Daniel has been sound asleep for about an hour or so. His most recent xopenx treatment was at 11:30, and the Tech said his wheezing was much better, now just a slight wheeze on exhale, whereas it had been a heavy wheeze on inhale and exhale. So that's good news.
However, the nurse just now checked his blood oxygen and it was at 89 (100 is what it should be) so she had to give him some oxygen. Aside from the reasons mentioned by Ashley in the comments to the previous post, the nurse also said they'd been trying to avoid giving him oxygen because there's apparently a rule that the patient has to stay at least 24 hours after oxygen has been administered. So, now we're here for 2 nights. Oh well. At least he's doing better, and he slept through the nose plug session. *sigh*
However, the nurse just now checked his blood oxygen and it was at 89 (100 is what it should be) so she had to give him some oxygen. Aside from the reasons mentioned by Ashley in the comments to the previous post, the nurse also said they'd been trying to avoid giving him oxygen because there's apparently a rule that the patient has to stay at least 24 hours after oxygen has been administered. So, now we're here for 2 nights. Oh well. At least he's doing better, and he slept through the nose plug session. *sigh*
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Daniel Update 2
So, the iPhone battery died before I could get the update published. It is now just past 8:30. Since 7pm, Daniel has had his chest X-ray, another xopenx mixture, and they've given him another fluid drip. His blood oxygen levels are on the borderline of where they give him oxygen or not, so they're trying not to. If he dips below the border again, they'll probably give him some. Not sure what the reasoning behind giving or not giving it might be. Angie, Maggie, and Joshua came by again just before 8 to bring me a change of clothes and my iPhone charger. Maggie was broken-hearted that the whole family wouldn't be together at night. Daniel consoled her with tales of his wheelchair ride to wear a lead apron for his X-ray. This helped a little. The worst part for Daniel is that they put the IV in his right hand, and they instructed him to do his best not to wiggle it, so he can't even play his Nintendo DS. This is really the worst part of the whole affair. However, as he says, "as long as we're not here for 4 or 5 or 6 days, it's not too bad. Also, I got to wear a mask! (a breathing treatment mask) Plus, they brought me my own food and I got to request a movie. Also, I got to ride in a wheelchair! And I also have my own hospital bed, my own room, and my own TV with my own remote!" So, all in all, it's not too bad.
Daniel Update 1
It's about 7pm. So far, he's had one treatment of xopenx + something ,
they've drawn some blood, and he's gotten a steroid by IV, and he's
now on some sort of IV drip, which I assume is why he's not
particularly hungry. His doctor has been in to check on him once. He
told us they're going to give him the xopenx mixture every 3 hours,
and he'll check on us tomorrow. iPhone battery low, future updates
after charging.
they've drawn some blood, and he's gotten a steroid by IV, and he's
now on some sort of IV drip, which I assume is why he's not
particularly hungry. His doctor has been in to check on him once. He
told us they're going to give him the xopenx mixture every 3 hours,
and he'll check on us tomorrow. iPhone battery low, future updates
after charging.
Daniel
We've checked Daniel into the hospital. They're going to give him breathing treatments, take some blood for testing, give him a chest X-ray, a steroid IV, possibly a fluid IV if he doesn't start drinking more water and juice, and keep him for at least one night, from what I understand. Apparently, the official orders for specific treatment aren't in the system yet, so we won't know for certain until they are, but the Tech and the Nurse both seemed to think that was the normal course. Please keep him in your prayers, as this will be his first overnight hospital stay (apart from his birth, I mean.) We'll update as we can.
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