StoutSistersSixteen

This is a picture of Michael as we were dressing him in preparation of leaving the hospital. He was there for a full week but he has been home now for more than two weeks and is doing very well.

After my last post Michael improved very quickly. They removed the ventilator on the Thursday after inserting it and he was released from the hospital Friday evening. We were in limbo all that time and weren't sure when we would be going home until an hour or so before we did, so when it happened it happened quickly. Then we were at home and I had my hands full again and I just haven't taken the time until now to post this update. He is strong and healthy and doesn't seem to have any lasting affects from his experience. He does have a bit of colic now, which is to be expected after the antibiotics, so I am working on getting more probiotics into him so that his digestive system will work well again and the fussiness and discomfort will go away. But in the meantime he is eating, sleeping, and growing well.

We are much more watchful and aware now of his breathing, of course, and perhaps even a bit paranoid. We look for any little sign of congestion and we continually monitor how he is breathing, but he continues to do great. I now know what signs should have allerted me to danger--working so hard to breathe and his color changing. I was looking for signs of congestion that would block up his lungs and prevent breathing. But he did not sound congested and his nose was not blocked at all. He coughed a few times and I could hear it, but the doctor had told me a few hours earlier that his lungs sounded fine and I couldn't tell that they were getting worse. Some of my other kids had been congested much worse and had never come down with RSV. The doctor later told me that sometimes the congestion in the lungs can only be heard with a stethescope. Michael had had labored breathing for several hours before he crashed so badly, but it wasn't constant and he seemed to recover from those difficult episodes. He would struggle to breathe and would turn quite pale, even gray, but then would start crying and be a beautiful pink again and would seem to be breathing fine for several minutes. Then he would struggle again. This went on for probably 4-5 hours. But now I realize that he wasn't recovering fully between the episodes of labored breathing. Though he seemed to be getting enough oxygen, the carbon dioxide was continuing to build up in his blood to very dangerous levels until it eventually caused him to stop breathing altogether. They can only check CO2 levels with a blood test at the hospital. Looking back, I wish we had taken him to the emergency room earlier that evening. If he had been there they would have been able to give him the help he needed sooner. I am convinced he still would have been sent to the ICU at Primary Children's and would have eventually been put on the ventilator, but I think we could have avoided the ambulance ride and the life flight because, though distressed, he would have been more stable when they sent him there. Also, I realize now that feeling the need to watch over him continually should have been a clue to us that he needed hospital care. The doctors can't cure RSV. The body must fight it as it runs it's course. But, if necessary, they can keep the baby alive with breathing support as it does. It usually takes about 7-10 days to get over RSV and apparently, day 4 or 5 is the most difficult time in the struggle. That is when the baby often crashes.

We appreciate everyone's love and support and your prayers on our behalf. We are very grateful that all this has ended so well, and we hope that by sharing our experience we can help others be more informed so they can make better choices under similiar circumstances. We love you!