Thursday, April 21, 2011

Wyatt is Back in the Hospital

Here we go again.  Back in January, while in surgery, surgeons discovered that Wyatt was missing the left side of his diaphragm.  A new diaphragm was constructed and attached.   We all thought finally that this is could be the last of the major medical issues for Wyatt.  Well, if nothing else, the last year has taught us to take one day at a time and to not look to far ahead.  We have also learned that sometimes we need to take the day hour by hour even when all looks good because with Shane and Wyatt, things can change quickly.
A few weeks ago, we started to see a change in Wyatt again.  Both kids were sick and Shane even spent a week in the hospital with a high fever and a UTI.  Wyatt never really became as sick as Shane but all along we knew he just wasn’t himself.  Then he became constipated and this caused much stress for the poor guy.  After five days we finally got his bowels moving again and finally some relief.  This was short lived as this past weekend Wyatt appeared to be constipated again.  On Wednesday, Wyatt and Shane both came to Geisinger Medical Center to see their GI Doctor.  During this visit, at the request (demanding!?!) of mom an x-ray was ordered for Wyatt.  Mary knew Wyatt wasn’t himself and knew there was something more than a cold or stomach virus making him unhappy.  BINGO!!  Wyatt has bowel up in his chest cavity and it appears that his diaphragm detached and he was immediately admitted into the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital @ Geisinger. 
Wyatt is currently being evaluated and it looks as though he will spend another night here in the hospital again.  His situation is serious but he is doing well and appears to be stable.  Tonight the plan is to see if he can tolerate his regular overnight continuous feeds, remain pain free and not need oxygen beyond his normal overnight requirements.  If he passes all three tests he might be discharged to spend Easter at home with his family.  This would make us all very happy.
Wyatt will be having surgery again next week to reattach his constructed diaphragm, again.  This is a major surgery that will require his chest to be opened again.  We have been through this before and we will get through it again.  Right now, I just want to make sure he is well enough to come home and spend this weekend with us.  I will stress about next week, next week. 
Before I end this, one last thought.  Moms, trust your gut and force the issue if need be.  I have come to realize that no one knows their kids better then a Mother.  If you feel that something isn’t right just done settle for what a doctor or professional tells you.  Wyatt is his own medical journal and doesn’t follow normal behaviors in terms of medical procedures.  Twice Mary had demanded more be done and both times a very serious condition was discovered after it was thought he was clear to go.   
As always, Mary and I thank you for your support and prayers.  You are very important to us and you all give us strength.  Happy Easter and God Bless.

Please feel free to contact us at ericwaxy@ptd.net

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Shane's Condition

Shane’s condition improved today.  His WBC dropped in half from where it was yesterday which tells me the antibiotic is working.  His tests came back positive for a UTI and for the Rhinovirus.  I am more concerned about the UTI because he has had them before and was hospitalized last summer after an UTI lead to an e-coli infection which made him very sick.  His Urologist will be seeing him tomorrow to evaluate his condition but I suspect that he may have a drainage problem causing urine to escape and thus causing the infections.   It will be very interesting to see how this plays out over the next day or so.  Shane is also requiring O2 to help him breath and I suspect that this is more related to the Rhinovirus and nasal congestion and thus not an issue with his lungs.  Multiple X-rays this week continue to show that his lungs are fine yet the difficulty to breath continues.  He is suctioned multiple times a day and they have taken so much mucus out of this little boy of mine.  They have called in an ENT specialist to evaluate him and he should be seen by him tomorrow as well.  He has had no fever the past 2 days which is good news as it reached 104.6 on Sunday when he was in the ER.
Tomorrow will be a new day and let’s hope that Shane continues to improve.  The doctor said maybe he can come home tomorrow but thought that most likely he would need to spend a few more days in the hospital.  One thing we know about both Shane and Wyatt, they are fighters but they play by their own rules.  They enjoy keeping the doctors guessing as to what will happen next.  As always, Mary and I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers that are being said for our boys.  It means the world to us.  Thanks.

Please feel free to contact me at ericwaxy@ptd.net.