Isaac

So Here's the Scoop. Isaac got a cough about Friday when we were in MN no other symptoms. On wed after we came back he was not doing so great. His breathing became labored, he lost his voice and he threw up. He was in the hospital for almost 24 hours, but was sent home feeling great. No school Thrusday/Friday and icecream often. Friday night he didn't sleep much. Some due to coughing, a lot cuz he said his teeth hurt (another absess). By morning his breathing sometimes was good sometimes not. I wanted to just get more steroids but can't on the weekend. So I kept asking him how he felt and by noon he had quite a bit of strider (seeing those muscles work for breath). We went back to the ER but this time the medicaions did not work. I suppose they did work, but not nearly as effectively and he had two breathing treatments and a couple kinds of intravenous steroids and his breathing was still terrible. So we called in the specialist. We all were very concerned that he was getting enough O2 but not pushing out enough carbon dioxide which was making him sleepy and do wierd things also because we were not opening up his airway we were concerned that we should protect the airway with a tube. If we waited we might not be able to get one in at all concidering how swollen he already was. Putting in the tube was a surgical procedure and went well but they did have to use more of an infant tube due to the lack of diameter in his throat. Yes I want to protect his airway. But what they don't tell you is what being on an airway really means. Such as 7 year olds should not be intebated for croup therefor we have to be life flighted to denver so they can A)find out exactly what is causing this inflammation B)give him better drugs to reduce inflammation in his throat and C)remove the tube without complicaions. Gillette does not really have a pulmonary program of any kind which is why not only are we here but one of my personal training clients had bilateral blood clots in his lungs and he wants me to get him back to work by the 20th. Crazy huh? So we waited for the Leer Jet to come pick us up. It is the smallest vehicle I have ever seen and was a little nervous. Honestly I was surprised we got all six of us in there, but it was a good ride. I even got snacks and better yet they gave Isaac the best care he's had yet. He was doted on every minute. So now that we are here I now realize that protecting his airway means a lot of scary yucky things and all are done to create a perfectly controlled situation. He is sedated and paralized and restrained so that he won't mess up or pull out the tube. He has a machine breathing for him to help him rest and make sure that the carbon dioxide is not building up in him. He has an NG (sorry I'm not too medical at 1am) down his nose to prevent bad things from going into his stomache. He is cathed. He has an IV in his Left arm and his right hand and has been pricked more times than I can count today. It took three nurses and three different pokes to get his first IV started and it was difficult to get him poked just right for his blood gasses. He dislikes that part so much that even after they sedated him they had to give him extra meds before poking cuz he would wiggle and squirm when they just used the alcohol wipe. So really things look tons and tons worse than they are. Oh yeah and he had a c collar on to restrict head movement (so not to mess up the tube) and now they are mostly just using towl rolls. We are hoping to get the tube out in the next day or two. But I have no idea when we get to go home. I really think it should fit into my schedule but have a feeling it will take a lot longer. Like when they told me Wed that he would just be there overnight and I'm thinking oh he'll leave right away in the am but he was there til 4:30pm. He has been fabulous throughout the whole thing. He is tough and as long as you don't stick him with a needle or put a tube down his nose while he is napping he will be his fabulous self. Its tough to watch. He has been through so much and I just want him better and smiling again.