Saturday, September 24, 2005


Matthew's boxer pose

Matthew weighed in at a bruising 4.4kilos today. That is in excess of 9.5lbs! Even so, the doctors are going to surgically implant a G-tube late next week. A gastro-intestinal feeding tube will look like a button on his abdomen. It will be a much more stable way of administering his feeds. Even more important is another procedure that will be performed at the same time. It is called a Fundal Plication. The doctors will surgically tighten the entrance to Matthew's stomach thus lowering the risk of him spitting up food. That will be a relief for Terri and I because Matthew aspirated some breast milk into his lungs before his surgery and it caused all kinds of respiratory problems. While this will make our home life much more manageable, it comes with a price. During the procedure Matthew will have to be re-intubated and put on a respirator. His Pulmonologist, Dr. Nakamura, believes that he will only be intubated for 1 or 2 days and possibly less.
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2 comments:

Grandma Sue said...

9.5lbs!! Way to go Matthew. I'm sorry he still has to have more procedures done, but hopefully this will help him get to the point where he can go home.

God bless you. Love, Grandma Sue

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry he needs another surgery too! Poor little baby... he starts off w/ a rare and complex heart defect to serious pulmonary problems, to bronchial & trachial problems, to vocal cord & swallowing problems, to a feeding tube.... I'm afraid of what's next.
Such a nighmare this has been.
We will be spending most of his first years at several doctors offices.
We sure hope he gets approved for Medicade.
Terri