Tag: trach

Thursday, 10 Feb 2005:

Yesterday marked the completion of Gabriella’s first week at home. To celebrate, Mum, Dad, and Ella went to…the hospital (where else?) for her scheduled check-up. Dr. Cable was very pleased with how she looked – both inside and out.

After hearing about how Ella and, Mum and Dad fared over the previous seven days; Dr. Cable inserted a tiny flexible scope into Ella’s trach tube to examine her airway. Everything inside checked good! On the outside, he prescribed some medications for the rash around her neck.

All in all, he was very pleased with her progress. Ella also received a special vaccine (Synagis) to ward off one of the really nasty respiratory illnesses (respiratory syncytial virus – RSV). Ella was weighed prior to her vaccination – she is up to 5.66 Kg or 12 lbs 8 ozs.

Pictured left is Gabriella napping after the first dose of her rash medication – it works amazingly well. All for now.

Thank you for your prayers.

Tuesday, 08 Feb 2005:

Gabriella was restless throughout much of yesterday and all of last night due to a nasty rash around her neck. Unfortunately, it is fairly common problem for infants with trach tubes. It occurs when moisture from the warm-air humidifier – which conditions the air that Ella breathes – saturates the strap that holds her trach tube in place.

(Trach Tips:  Use of “Chapstick, original” – no flavors – on the affected areas.  This works amazingly well, Ella had a horrible rash under her chin.  The rash literally went away in about 36 hours.)

This presents a bit of a conundrum since she needs the moisture from the warm-air humidifier to keep her airway and lungs in good working order. This seems like a good place to put in a plug for the nose – one of God’s great creations. Ella visits her doctors tomorrow, so we are hopeful they will provide some relief. 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.

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.