| The NICU Experience | Aaron update 34 |
| Subject: Aaron update 34 Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2003 11:46 AM From: Kevin Quick To: Aaron Update List We called and talked with nurse Lisa this morning. Aaron continues to do well. His breathing has become a little bit more labored; he’s working a little harder at breathing on his own, with help from the CPAP machine. Lisa was concerned enough that she ordered an extra blood gas test this morning, but the numbers came back perfect. So, they’ll keep him on CPAP as long as the numbers are good, and as long as he’s not working TOO hard. They do take him off of CPAP every 6 hours for 10 to 20 minutes (with some pure oxygen blown in is face), and he has been tolerating this well. If he continues to do well, these sessions off of CPAP will be gradually lengthened to 30 minutes, then 40 minutes, etc. He gained 30 grams since yesterday, which puts him at 1100 grams now. If he keeps gaining too much too quickly, though, they’ll put him on a stronger diuretic. Again, we don’t want him to gain too much water weight; this water collects around the lungs and makes breathing more difficult. Aaron will have his third head ultrasound this afternoon. If the results are good, this will be his last head ultrasound. Since he’s at 30 weeks gestational age today, the risk of further brain bleeds are low from this point forward. Let’s pray for another perfect head ultrasound! Sometime later this week, Aaron will have his first eye exam. Dr. Goode, the eye doctor, will examine Aaron’s retinas for aberrant growth of blood vessels. Apparently, because preemies are given a lot of extra oxygen, this oxygen somehow causes the blood vessels in the eyes, which are supposed to be concentrated at one place on the retina, to grow at an abnormally fast rate all over the retina. (I’m not too sure how technically accurate I am here, but this is my understanding of this at this point.) This can result in vision problems, including blindness. If the abnormal growth is not too severe, it can be corrected with laser surgery. For whatever reason, I think I’ve been worrying about Aaron’s eyes more than anything else over the past couple of weeks. Not that anything seems wrong with them; maybe it’s just that I know that eye problems are one of the most common complications for micropreemies, and that Aaron hasn’t been tested yet. Aaron’s test this week may not be definitive; the test results may simply come back as “immature,” meaning that his eyes are not yet mature enough yet to be accurately evaluated. According to Lisa, if the initial test results are good, then Aaron will be tested once a month for the next few months. If the initial test (or any subsequent test) results are bad or questionable, then he’ll be tested once a week. Please pray with us that Aaron’s eyes will be OK. Thanks again for your continued love, support and prayers. We continue to feel God’s grace holding us up, and strengthening our baby as well. Love, Kevin and Kathleen |
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