Saturday, August 8, 2009

Bennett Post Op Update: A Couple Issues...

Yesterday Bennett was moved into the step down unit and was doing well except for his eating- not as good. A speech therapist is coming today to watch him eat which is what I've wanted from the beginning because he's always been a sloppy eater and doesn't have a great latch so hopefully she can help with that.

Last night he could not seem to settle and his heart rate was high all night. They think that is due to pain. I left at midnight to sleep at the Ronald McDonald house because I was exhausted and then when we returned this morning his O2 sats were low, even while he was sleeping. So the doctor looked at his chest x-ray and she said that it is very common after surgery to have very small parts of the lungs to collapse as well as fluid to be around them and that is what she is seeing. She said it is not serious and again very common and it is not like a collapsed lung-which of course is what I was thinking. They will most likely increase his lasix and do chest PT where they will tap on his back to get things moving around since he can't cough like adults can to get things moving in the lungs. The nurse said they may want to put him back on oxygen temporarily but we have to wait until they do rounds to see. Right now he just has a mask near his face, blowing oxygen into the air around him to help bring his sats up and it is helping.


He just received more morphine (they had discontinued the order earlier) and his heart rate is coming back down. I think Bennett surprised everyone by doing so well but then he is only on the beginning of this 3rd day post op so he still needs those meds so hopefully this can take the edge off of his pain. They removed the dressing and the scar isn't too bad but it isn't pretty either. Please pray that his lungs can clear up and get back to how they should be and his pain can be resolved.

But again, I've been told this is all normal after surgery and nothing to be alarmed by. So I'm not alarmed, yet:)



I did see Kristin with Liam from a distance, did not talk to her. Not sure how Liam is doing but if I see her and can talk I will tell her people are praying for her son. Thank you for praying for him! She does not have a blog that I know of for those of you that asked.



Here's a picture I took of Bennett without his bandage:

14 comments:

  1. It's so great to hear that Bennett is doing so nicely. I agree with your doctors, the issues you are seeing are pretty common. Lucy needed oxygen after her surgery as well. For what it's worth, we just saw the cardio Thursday and she's doing just perfectly! Babies are just so incredibly resilient, and I think our munchkins are even more so! I think a little extra spunk comes in on that chromosome!!

    Continue to be well and try to get some rest!

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  2. Praying for all of you still. Glad to hear Bennett is doing well. HUGS
    Caroline

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  3. Thanks for the update on your sweet little man. I'll continue to pray for him and your family. I hope that his lungs clear soon. Take of yourself too!

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  4. Still praying foryou both. Please do tell Kristen that we are praying for Liam, too!

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  5. Thanks for the updates..I continue to pray for bennett and your family..Liam too!

    Tina From Canada

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  6. I'll keep praying for Bennett - especially for his lungs to clear and his pain to get better.

    Thanks for all of the updates and pictures!

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  7. Bennett's a trooper! We'll continue to pray for his lungs and his friends :)

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  8. Benjamin was on and off oxygen for days after his surgery. He developed a pleural effusion, and they had to give him a separate chest tube to drain it. All-in-all, it wasn't too bad, just one more small bump in the road.

    Seeing that picture instantly brought back the smells of the hospital, namely of all the tape that was stuck to B to hold on all his tubes. Is the beeping driving you nuts yet??? I heard it in my head for days and days once we got home. Which is hopefully where you'll be soon! Not my home, but yours. LOL

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  9. Ohhhh, poor baby!! I'm glad they gave him the pain meds again.....of course he's having some pain! I would!! BUT I'm glad he's doing ok. Will continue to pray for quick healing and rest for you!

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  10. Glad to hear that for the most part things are still going well. Lily had a "wet lung" and they had the respiratory therapist come and work on her every couple of hours for several days. She actually enjoyed the treatments...well, until they had to suction her out anyway. She, too, couldn't cough up the yucky gunk. Everything worked out fine. I know it's scary and seems like a setback, but hang in there.

    I will continue to pray for all these new issues and for little Liam too. Thanks for keeping us up-to-date on both boys!

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  11. Still praying that Bennett gets stronger & healthier every day! And I hope you guys get to go home soon! and continued prayers for little Liam as well!

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  12. I will be praying for Bennett. Thank you for sharing your precious life with us. He's beautiful.

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  13. I am praying for Bennett. I don't know if this makes you feel any better but Wysdom had both a collapsed lung and fluid in his lungs. The did PT with him twice a day for I think 3-4 days and gave him an antibiotic and the liquid cleared quite quickly. As well he was on the cpap mask that helped open the collapsed lung. They told me that both of these things are commom. Just thought I would share that and let you know that we went through the same thing. Hope you are getting some rest and are able to do shifts so that you can get some sleep!

    Take care

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  14. So glad he is doing well... chest PT can really help so I'm glad they will be doing that!

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