Back in PICU
We started the day with a trip to Dr. Walker, the pediatric cardiologist. Jereth had another echocardiogram then we met with the doctor. She had considered doing a sedated echocardiogram but since the doctor at Primary Children's will need to do that procedure before the surgery she chose not to do it here, too.
When Dr. Walker saw how much Jereth was struggling to breathe and considered that he still has not gained much weight, she decided he needs more help than he was getting. She sent us back to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise.
His breathing problems could be because of his heart defect, because of weakened walls in his airway, or because of his spitting up (reflux). Jereth surprised us by having some of all three involved in causing his difficulties. Giving him warm, moist air blown into this nose has really helped him breathe more comfortably. The raspy breathing has pretty much stopped and he slept more peacefully last night than he has in a long time.
Here in the PICU they also revised Jereth's feeding schedule to continuous feeds so he does not need to use any of his energy trying to eat. Hopefully helping him breathe and feeding him through the tube will free up enough calories to allow him to grow.
The downside is that the high pressure, humidified air treatment is only available in intensive care, so since it looks like Jereth will need the air until he gets to have heart surgery, we're planning to be here for some time.
Has the where and when of his surgery been decided? You are all in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteThe where is almost certainly at Primary Children's there in Salt Lake. The when depends on how Jereth does this weekend and the schedule of the doctor there. Dr. Walker is really pushing to get the surgery done by the end of this month at the latest, and maybe even this week.
ReplyDelete