Author: MG

Sunday, 06 Feb 2005 (Noon):

Gabriella and the entire family enjoyed a quiet Sunday. Mum and Lucy had a well deserved break at the beach near our home, while Dad and Ella did some light chores around the house. Ella is adjusting well to being at home again – she sleeps soundly each night from about 9 pm until 6 am.

During daylight hours she keeps herself amused by playing with the toys that hang above her bed, eating, and napping. However, her favorite pastime is to pull on the sensor wires that are attached to her heart-rate and oxygen saturation monitors.

This results in the alarms going off, followed by Mum and Dad running to her side. Once everyone is assembled in response to the alarm, she flashes her best “Daddy’s girl” smile to let everyone know that she’s really in charge.

Pictured left is Matt, Lucy, Ella (pre-Trach), and Matt’s Godparents – Ardie and Pete Van Well. All for now.

Thank you for your prayers.

Saturday, 05 Feb 2005 (8 pm):

While at home, Gabriella normally wears two different types of monitors. The monitors alert Mum and Dad if Ella’s heart rate, respiration rate, or oxygen saturation level stray outside of fairly narrow windows.

Additionally, she is required to breathe warm humidified air in order to keep her airway and lungs moist. Ella endures the discomfort of wearing her equipment with the patience of Job. So as you can imagine, bath-time is a very special treat for both Ella and Mum.

Thank you for your prayers.

Friday, 04 Feb 2005 (5 pm):

Gabriella is doing well at home but misses all of the attention she received from the doctors, nurses, and staff at Tripler. Mum, Dad and Lucy all love having Ella home and are adjusting well to the associated demands. Yesterday we received outstanding news from Ella’s pediatric urologist.

The nuclear medicine renal scan showed NO SIGNS of damage to GG’s kidneys. We are so very thankful she is healthy in that department and have high hopes she will continue to make good progress on all other fronts.

Picture left is Dr. Anne Naclario, the Intensivist from the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Anne has looked after Ella with tender loving care since they first met back in September.

Thank you for your prayers.

Thursday, 03 Feb 2005 (4pm):

Gabriella was discharged late yesterday afternoon. Her transition from hospital to home was uneventful – much to the relief of Mum and Dad.

Gabriella’s room at home is now equipped similarly to her hospital room: Pulse and Oxygen Saturation Monitors, Heart Rate Monitor, Warm Air Humidifier, Suction Machine, and Supplemental Oxygen.

Regardless of all the machines, Ella’s room is still warm and cozy now that she is back home. Although we are quickly settling into a routine, it is clear to us that we are in need of additional help. Our search for nursing help continues. All for now.

Thank you for your prayers.

Wednesday, 02 Feb 2005 (6am):

Gabriella had a bit of a rough night last night, mostly due to the commotion associated with getting a new roommate at 2 am. Scheduled for this morning are the final preparations for discharge and the transition to caring for Ella at home.

Both Mum and Dad are excited (and a bit nervous) about the prospect of caring for Ella at home but both are well prepared for this challenge. Pictured left is Gabriella with one of her best friends, Dr Burtis. Dr Burtis is part of the outstanding Ear, Nose, & Throat (ENT) team at Tripler. All for now…

Thank you for your prayers.

Tuesday, 01 Feb 2005 (Noon):

Once again Gabriella slept well overnight – 10 pm to 6 am. Ella’s morning routine began with a light bath and diaper change, followed by a new outfit and new bedding. Once she was swaddled and tucked back into bed, GG received her first bottle of the day. She continues to eat well and we are hopefully she will gain another pound or two prior to her next surgery. Yesterday was a full day for GG. At 10 am the Neonatal ICU (NICU) nurses established an Intravenous (IV) line.

GG is known as “hard stick” because she has such small veins, so we were delighted when the pros from the NICU “threaded the needle” on the first attempt. Since she is a “hard stick” they used one of the veins in her scalp. While some parents are squeamish about “head sticks”, for GG it is often the best choice because the veins there are clearly visible.

Next, Ella received an injection of a radioactive isotope, Technetium-99, which localizes and accumulates in the kidneys. A few hours later she underwent an imaging scan, during which a gamma detector took high-resolution images of her kidneys from several angles.

The purpose of this test is to determine if Ella’s kidneys were damaged by the Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) she had last month. We should hear the test results in the next day or two. Until then we will keep busy disposing of nuclear waste filled diapers (see today’s photo). All for now.

Thank you for your prayers.

Monday, 31 Jan 2005 ( 7 am ):

Last night was another quiet and restful night – no problems with her trach tube and no DeSat’s. Yesterday was moving day for little Ella and although she traveled just a short distance, her (our) quality of life improved dramatically.

Her new room, which is the same two-bed room GG stayed in during her first visit to TAMC way back in August, is much quieter than the four-bed room. This morning Ella is scheduled to have a high-resolution scan of her kidneys.

This diagnostic procedure is one of several tests performed, following her urinary tract infection, to ensure her renal system is fully functional. Thus far, all indications are that everything is normal. Our search for a home healthcare nurse continues. Please feel free to offer any suggestions or to pass our contact information on to those who may be able to help.

God bless and thank you for your prayers.

Sunday, 30 Jan 2005 ( 10 am ):

Gabriella has done well over the past two days. She is stable and appears to be well on her way to establishing a routine. Mum and Dad continue their training which will enable them to properly care for Ella’s trach tube. Both need to be completely comfortable with the procedures for removing and reinserting the trach tube, as well as how to handle unexpected situations. Thankfully, the pediatrics ward is not quite as busy as it was earlier in the week.

Ella is in a four bed room, so it can be fairly stressful when all the beds are full. Currently, she only has one roommate. Lucy is also doing well but she misses having her family together. She especially misses her little sister. As you can probably imagine we are anxious to bring Ella home as soon as it is safe to do so. Please know our family is doing well.

We are blessed to have your support and friendship.

Thank you for your prayers.

Friday, 28 Jan 2005 ( 10 am ):

As you can probably imagine, things sometimes get a bit hectic around here – that was the case recently and the reason why there was no update on 27 January. Shortly after 1 am on Thursday, Gabriella appeared to have some breathing difficulties. She received two respiratory therapy treatments, which helped for a short time, but soon the wheezing and sputtering returned. Finally, her condition improved after her 6 am feeding. Apparently the pats on her back during burping helped to break up the congestion in her lungs.

Although Ella’s condition never rose to the level of a “crisis,” she was clearly uncomfortable and fairly distressed for a number of hours – such is the nature of airway problems. Once she improved everyone felt great relief. Last night we stayed ahead of the power curve by giving her a respiratory therapy treatment, lots of pats on the back, and suction before she went to bed. That tactic seemed to work well as she slept soundly throughout the night. It has become abundantly clear to us over the past week that much care is required to maintain her respiratory health.

We are hopeful Gabriella will be discharged early next week, however, that is dependent upon several logistical issues. The fist of which is finding a home health care nurse who can help us look after wee Ella. We would like to thank everyone who is helping with that search effort. We are optimistic we will find someone soon. All for now,

Thank you for your prayers.

Wednesday, 26 Jan 2005 ( 5 am ):

Yesterday afternoon Gabriella transferred from the PICU to the General Pediatrics Ward. Once Gabriella was settled, the Doctors presided over another Trach tube change (cleanliness is next to Godliness). That procedure, which was thankfully uneventful, was performed by Ella’s Dad. Both Dad and Mum must master this skill, as well as several others, before Ella is allowed to go home. As for our quest to find a home-healthcare professional to help look after Ella: the search continues.

On a positive note, we believe Ella meets the qualification threshold required for that service. Qualification is “part one” of the home-healthcare issue, “part two” deals with the availability of trained personnel here on the island. We are hopeful that we will find a nurse locally, but if not, we are willing to try to “import” one from the mainland.

In other news, Lucy visited Ella yesterday after her Gymboree class with Grace Hausman.  According to Mum, Grace was a proper young lady. Lucy on the other hand was doing her best to bring life to the maternal admonition “just wait until you children.”

Every bit the two-year old, she enjoys exploring boundaries and testing life’s (Mum’s) limits. Finally, we are so grateful for the support we receive from friends new and old, thank you. And as always,

thank you for your prayers.

Tuesday, 25 Jan 2005 ( 5 am ):

Gabriella rested well despite two blockages to her “trach” tube overnight. Both blockages were cleared quickly so Ella’s stress level remained fairly low. Yesterday’s big event – the procedure to change Ella’s trach tube – went according to plan. Since Dr. Cable was pleased with the healing at the incision site (a.k.a. “stoma”) and her overall progress, he will probably transfer Ella to the General Pediatrics Ward some time today.

Once there, Mum and Dad will receive the requisite training to care for Ella at home – Trach tube changing and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), thus far. We will also attempt to ensure the other items needed for our transition to home are ready and in place. It is likely we will have a home-healthcare provider help us monitor Gabriella’s condition.

However, the one potential obstacle to that option is the fact that there is a shortage of nurses on the islands. So, if you know of a nurse who would like to spend a few months working in Hawaii, please let us know. If not, please remember that in your prayers.

Click on the photo to the left to see a photo of Gabriella’s Trach Tube. Once you see the narrowness of the trach tube opening, you will understand how easily it can become blocked. All for now. Please feel free to share Gabriella’s story with a friend…more prayers are always welcome. As always,

thank you for your prayers.

Monday, 24 Jan 2005 ( 8 am ):

Overnight, Gabriella rested peacefully – with no blockages to her “trach” tube. Yesterday, she experienced a few stressful events but no major blockages or DESAT’s. Ella continues to eat well and she seems more comfortable each day. Today’s big event will be the changing of her “trach” tube. During that procedure Dr. Cable will use a small fiber-optic scope to view the portion of her airway below trach tube.

He will also see if the incision site (stoma) is healing properly. If so, Dr. Cable will probably transfer Ella from the Pediatrics ICU to the General Pediatrics Ward. We look forward to taking that step, as it brings us one step closer to home. Lastly, please remember to say a prayer TODAY for Captain Hausman, USMC and all those who are defending freedom around the world. God bless you and

thank you for your prayers.

Prayers From Baghdad Real Heroes Say Their Prayers!

Captain Blake Hausman, USMC (pictured 2nd from left) deployed to Baghdad early last summer. When not deployed, Blake works with Matt at JICPAC (Joint Intelligence Center Pacific) in Hawaii. Blake’s wife, Angela and their daughter Grace, know Lisa and Lucy from the Gymboree playgroup. The Hausman family has been tremendously supportive over the past many months.

This photo is the latest example of their faith in action. Please join our family in thanking them by saying a prayer each day for the safe return of Blake and all of the soldiers who are defending freedom around the world.

Sunday, 23 Jan 2005 ( 9 am ):

Gabriella rested well again last night – her “trach” tube remained clear all night. Yesterday, Ella’s “trach tube” became blocked only once. While each of these events is frightening, the fact that they seem to be occurring less frequently gives us reason to be upbeat. Still, it is exceptionally difficult to leave Ella alone, even for brief periods, as all too often the monitors fail to perform adequately. The next major milestone for Ella is the first changing of her trach tube, which will likely occur tomorrow or the next day.

Once the doctors are satisfied that the opening in her trachea or “stoma” is healing properly she will be eligible to go home. However, there are a number of safety measures that must be in place before she is discharged. We hope you enjoy the recently posted photos. Click on the “photos” link above, and then click on “Oct 2004” or “Dec 2004”. You may notice Ella looks a bit more “cheeky” than usual in some of the Dec 2004 photos. That puffiness, which was caused by the steroids prescribed to reduce the narrowing in her airways, has thankfully subsided. All for now,

thank you for your prayers.

Saturday, 22 Jan 2005 ( 7am ):

Gabriella rested well last night – without a single blocked “trach” tube. On three occasions yesterday, Ella’s “trach tube” became blocked and her oxygen levels dropped (Oxygen Desaturation or “DESAT”} for a short time. Blockages are cleared using suction. A thin flexible hollow tube is inserted into the blocked “trach tube,” the mucus blockage or “plug” is then sucked clear. As you probably imagine, Ella is not particularly fond of this procedure – even though it helps her to breathe more easily. Yesterday’s DESAT incidents clearly demonstrated the fragile nature of

Ella’s current condition. Since Ella is unable to protect her own airway by coughing and unable to signal for help by crying, we are dependent upon monitors to sound the alarm. That dependency is a point of concern for both Mum and Dad, especially as we begin to think about caring for Ella at home. Thankfully we still have a few days to sort through these issues. For those who have recently signed our Guest Book, thank you for your words of encouragement and support – they mean so very much to us. And as always,

thank you for your prayers.