Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Surgery #5: G-tube replacement

Loki is presently undergoing surgery at UCSF Children's Hospital to replace his G-tube (which is actually more of a button or plug). The same style will go in, only this one should be able to stay closed, and to hold a tube in place. This should make feeding much easier.

I was hoping that we could wait until his button is replaced with the Mic-Key--but Loki won't be big enough for that for a couple months.

The good news is that this is a very simple procedure. In fact, no cutting is required. The doctors just need to put a scope and guide wire down Loki's esophagus to swap the buttons. This could have been done without an overnight stay, but the doctor wanted to monitor Loki closely for potential infection. We should be out of here within 24 hours. Despite her exhaustion, Mom is taking the overnight shift.

1 comments:

berkeleygal77 said...

As always, my thoughts are with you and let me know if you need anything.

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.
See videos.

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Loki's Holiday Gift Drive

Please consider donating to Loki's Holiday Gift Drive for the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center NICU. You can donate by Paypal or credit card here:





Click here for more information, including how to pay by check. For all posts on the Gift Drive, click here.