Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Day 16: Hoping for a healthy heart

Today Loki got a heart ultrasound scan to see if he still had the heart problem - the PDA - or if the drugs have worked. The results are encouraging but not yet definitive. The technician who performed the scan did not see the PDA, but cautioned that a neonatologist doctor will need to review the results to confirm. If this turns out to be true, then Loki won't need surgery, and may be able to be removed from the respirator. And even if the PDA is still there, I am still encouraged. Perhaps the first two courses of drugs shrank it so that it is hard to see, and maybe a third course will finish the job.

We should have some information midday tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

It seems there is a balance to be achieved with the respirator and other assisted breathing equipment. Although it is good for his lungs for the respirator to be on a weak setting, he is burning much of his calories through breathing instead of putting on some weight. It is not as clear-cut as I initially thought.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness--
Loki is so beautiful and full of life! I am sending all my good energy to you and hoping the drugs have worked.
Cheryl

marieke said...

It is so good to see him move and open his eyes! It seems like he likes his finger, I hope his heart is healthy and the respirator can be removed because...then you can hold him! ove Marieke

About Loki Sky

Loki Sky is a special little man. He was a very early micropreemie, weighing only 610 grams (1 lb, 5 oz) after 24 weeks, 3 days gestation, born to an American Father and a Dutch Mother in Berkeley, California on October 18, 2008.

On January 11, 2009, while still in the hospital NICU, his one kidney stopped working. It was repaired after three surgeries. After spending time in three hospitals in three cities, Loki came home on February 17. He struggled with eating, and then stopped in July, leading to 8 days in the hospital, a failure-to-thrive diagnosis, and a NG feeding tube. On October 10, a minor surgery installed a G feeding tube. Another procedure replaced it with a new one, and then again with a Mic-Key button in Jan. 2010.

In August 2010, he and his parents moved to the Netherlands.

Read about his first name.
Read & hear about his middle name.
See photos.
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