Post Glenn: Day 9
Day 7
Still congested but Extubated and Chest Tube Removed
The medical team decided during morning rounds that today would be the day that Justin would be free from all his “accessories”. I whimpered in hesitation. Was he ready? He still had A LOT of secretions…
First to come off was his chest tube. A few hours later, his breathing tube…
He tolerated everything quite well. His blood gases, heart, and body seemed to do fine on its own. But, he was still suctioned often to help him remove all the mucus stuck in his throat.
Day 8
Congestion, Congestion, Congestion
Justin’s lungs seemed improved in the x-ray, but he still seemed to be breathing with difficulty. Whatever is in his throat won’t come out! He was awake all day. Come night time, he actually slept and his lungs sounded clearer.
The little monster loves TV! I came in this morning to see Justin fixated on the tube, watching Sesame Street. It was hilarious for me to watch him because he looked like a little man lounging, chilling out. After we came back from reports, my son was still lounging, watching TV, as cool as a cucumber. Then, he dozed off.
Day 9
Here we are, almost at the finishing point, but not quite. There’s talk of him moving to “the floor”–the 6th floor, that is. Ugh, I dread that place. I asked them to reconsider with Justin’s congestion still being an issue. But, he’s so stable heart wise that he’s not considered a critical case anymore. So, we’ll have maybe one more day of one on one care….then, off to the land of the lost.
He’s been intaking over 2 ounces of breastmilk every 3 hours by NG tube, and the attending is increasing his feeds to 3 ounces every three hours, now, by NG tube.
Justin is definitely making progress. But, this congestion thing makes me a little nervous. We’ll keep you posted!
MIRACLES do happen!
Every obstacle Justin overcomes is a miracle. Sometimes, the fact that he gets better from his sicknesses is taken for granted, like it’s normal for it to happen that way. But, let’s be reminded of all that Justin’s gone through that was not “supposed to happen, but did”, and appreciate that he’s doing well–thanks to all the prayers from all of you.
The fact that he’s living today is a miracle. Let’s not take for granted the medical advancements that have taken place over the past decade that has allowed Justin the opportunity he has today.
Ultimately, though, we all know, it’s not up to me or you or the medical geniuses to “fix” Justin. We all have our time. No matter how great of a surgeon, doctor, team I have by his side, his life is still no guarantee.
A mother whose daughter had just undergone heart surgery for an ASD closure (a less severe heart condition than Justin’s) asked me, “So, is your son going to live?,” after hearing of his heart condition. I thought for a moment before I shrugged and said, “We never know these things, you know?”
Regardless of whether Justin has a heart condition, the number of days he has on this earth can never be determined. Monica mentioned in her comment on Post Glenn: Day 6 that this is true even with healthy children. This thought really helped me through the first stages of Justin’s life. I kept my baby because I knew his imperfection did not define the number of days he had on this earth and it was not up to me to determine it for him. I thought of all the tragic things that had happened to the healthy-born people around me (cancer, car accidents, drowning) and thought that when the time comes it will come–there’s no preventing it.
For now, I pray for Justin to help prolong his life. I petition to Him and St. Cabrini to do every miracle they can to help Justin get better. Believe in miracles.
March 4th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
YAY FOR JUSTIN