Get Well Soon

Brett with his photos from home and his "get well" card from Uncle David & Aunt Kim

I've hesitated to put up a new post, because I love the picture of me and G, and it looks so good at the top of the page! Alas, it's time to begin anew. First, I want to say that we have changed the settings for comments. It was set on "only members" and we changed it so that anyone can comment! That should help it not be so difficult; however, your comment will not appear right away because we moderate them.

Super Dad gives both boys a bath at the same time

Today mom and dad left, and I had to leave Mark at home sick with the stomach bug. It's hard to leave your sick child when you're a mommy, but I'm glad he's old enough to understand. Plus, he's got a really great daddy to stay with him. They probably had more fun, anyway. I was really wanting to go to church today, but nothing really worked out the way we thought it would. Hardly ever does, to tell you the truth. But it's always an "adventure!" I'm so thankful mom and dad came up to stay to help with Mark and give Rob and I a short break from hospital world. Our doctor is saying it's probably going to be another week that Brett will have to stay here. There are several issues facing us with Brett, and I haven't really described everything in details because I don't completely understand it all - and there are just too many rabbits we are chasing to send out all the info. There are a lot of questions the doctors have as far as Brett's immune system and respiratory system, and most of all this need for oxygen. Does he need oxygen at home? Short term? Long term? What do his lungs really look like? They sound good by stethoscope and look good on an x-ray, but what about on a bronchoscopy? Are his lungs infected right now or only his blood (therefore, do we need to continue all 3 antibiotics or just one?) Is this need for oxygen CF related or prematurity related and therefore his airways will grow as he grows and won't need it anymore? Is there a problem with his immune system? Will he be able to keep his central line or does it need to come out? None of these questions will be answered today, and some of them maybe not for awhile. We must take it day by day and just see what happens.

We now have 5 blood cultures, 2 positive and 3 negative, which means the antibiotic is working to kill the bacteria in the blood. It also means right now is the time we start counting the 21 day treatment, even though he has been on the antibiotic since last Monday. Not a great thing to be on antibiotics that long, but we're happy they're working. The doctors want to keep Brett in the hospital until we can see what is going to happen with this bacteria and the central line. Also, they want to get a chest CT scan while he is here. We've never done that before because of the radiation he will be exposed to - it equates to about 100 regular x-rays. That means we'll probably be here at UNC at least through next weekend.

The great thing is that Brett continues to grow! He weighed 20 pounds, 6 ounces on the last check. Only 1 pound behind Gantt, which is quite impressive, seeing as for months he was 5 pounds behind Gantt. The doctors are very encouraged by Brett's growth, because malabsorption is such a problem in those who have CF. Malabsorption was the reason he couldn't come home for so long the first time. Once we got the feeds at just the right formula, calories, and speed, he has done very well. Specifically, you can pray for continued growth for Brett, continued negative blood cultures, and for him to be able to sustain a 95 or higher oxygen saturation ON HIS OWN without oxygen assistance.