The Decision

I haven't been making the time to write these blogs lately but I really want to keep everybody updated so I'm going to cram a lot of information in a short post.

Ultimately, the meeting with the doctors led to the decision that Katelyn will get a trach. This way her lungs can get the ventilation they need but she can still develop normally (be awake, move around, eat etc.) and come home with it. It sounds really scary but once we did some research we became much more at ease with the idea of a trach.

Before going through surgery and putting in the trach, they have to do a trial 30-60 day intubation to prove that mechanical ventilation works for her.  They reintubated her on Thursday afternoon so we're on day 6 today.  The good news is that since being reintubated her PC02 has gone way, way down. The not so good news is that since she's an older baby who is used to breathing on her own they have to sedate her and let her machine do the work. It took them a while to figure out the right doses because the kid is stronger than anyone I know and wasn't getting knocked out by big doses of sedatives.

Because she has to be sedated, they had to install a central line (an IV that goes right to the heart) for her to get her medications. One of the risks of a central line is a blood infection and of course shortly after reintubating her oxygen needs went to 100 and she began running a fever. After doing some tests it was confirmed that she has a blood infection and the beginnings of a urinary infection. Sometimes it feels like the kid just can't catch a break. She's been on antibiotics for the past 3 days and her oxygen is still fluctuating around 100. It's been a rough week and wasn't the way I was hoping to spend her first Christmas...but sometimes life throws you curve balls.

That's the "big news" of the week. There are all sorts of stories that I'll eventually share but I'll save that for another post. We appreciate everyone who keeps Katie and our family in their thoughts and prayers and will take all of the positive energy we can get! Thank you so much! My heart is warmed by all of the good in this world.

Katelyn's first Christmas. She's majorly sedated her. We were all shocked that she could even open her eyes.