|
Greetings of love to all of you. Trusting that our Lord Jesus is keeping each one of you by His grace and in His peace during these wintry days. We are thankful that Brett continues to remain healthy, especially as we look ahead to a Feb 28 date for his lip surgery. He continues to be a good little fellow and we are glad to see him awake more and responding more and more each day. He truly is a blessing in our lives!
Back to Riley
On Feb 13 we spent a good part of our day visiting 3 departments in the Outpatient Clinic at Riley. Our first stop was in the Urology Department with Dr. Rink. He told us that Brett's hypospadias could be fixed anytime, but the undescended testes he'd like to see fixed before Brett is 1 year. This is a surgery we had "forgotten" about and not planned on this year. The risk of tumors increases in undescended testes, so it is important to have this done in timely manner.
Our next stop was in the Developmental Peds Dept with Dr Wilson. We had met him at Brett's bedside at Riley, so he was at least familiar to us. We mainly talked about feeding issues and decided that a "Suck-Swallow" Test would be performed in mid-March, giving his lip time to heal. This procedure is done by mixing barium in his bottle. Next an x-ray is taken as Brett is sucking and swallowing the food. It is easy to follow the path of the liquid and make determinations of how coordinated he is as this basic function. Dr Wilson is guessing Brett may eventually have to go to a G-Tube (a feeding tube directly into the stomach) for his liquid requirements. This is due to low muscle tone, which has left his suck-swallow weak and uncoordinated. We'll just wait and see, and continue practicing sucking and swallowing at home.
Our last stop was in the Pulmonary Dept where we found that his oxygen SATS were around 94-95 without his day oxygen. A healthy baby will have oxygen SATS of 99-100%. Dr. Valentine was very pleased with Brett's weight gain and overall health . She ordered a 2nd Sleep Study to determine the necessity of night oxygen, although she told us he really does not need it now and it was up to us whether we wanted to put him on it each night. The results of the Sleep Test will determine the "official parting" of the oxygen tank from our home.
Double Time
Brett has officially doubled his birth weight and is about 2 inches longer than at birth. Everyone we've seen says he looks so good and his fat cheeks tell the tale. Although Dr. Wilson reminded us that 4P Minus children are small in size, we continue to be excited for his seemly normal length and good weight gains.
Lip Surgery
The Lord worked out the details and we are on schedule for lip surgery Feb 28. At this time we only know that it will be some time in the morning. This should be an easy surgery and we'd love to bring him home the same day. Realistically we'll probably being staying one night, especially since the Pulmonary Doctor is going to push for this because of Brett's past need for oxygen and our inability to predict how he'll respond to anesthetic. Dr Eppley is an excellent plastic surgeon, but we know that God gives him his skill and God ultimately is in charge of the outcome. Please remember little Brett as he begins a series of surgeries.
Therapy
Brett has physical therapy each week, with developmental therapy once a month. Our PT, Terri Weaver is very encouraged by Brett's work thus far. She says he's a little fighter and he's doing a great job. He often keeps his head to the left side, so we are doing exercises to get him to move his head all around. In a week's time, the PT could really tell a difference in his ability to move is head. Therapy is going to be hard work for Brett, but we are going to cheer him on. We have to keep remembering...God has a purpose in this little boy's life. We must trust Him, wait up Him, and not fear. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
|
