DAY 1 TOPIC: Tell your story. Educate others about what life is like with a feeding tube and with your child’s/family member’s/your medical condition. Why does your child/Why do you have a tube?
Deklin was born a full term presumably healthy baby. When he was just a few hours old Deklin nursed for the first time, afterward he spit up everything. At the time no one thought much of it, a lot of babies spit up. The next few months were a continuous loop of feedings and spit up. At 4 months old Deklin was diagnosed with GERD and put on medication to try and control it. It was around this same time Deklin also started getting frequent respiratory illnesses and was diagnosed with reactive airway disease. The next few months were a blur of spit up, vomit, and nebulizer treatments. Just before Deklin's first birthday he was hospitalized for pneumonia, and it was then that his doctors discovered he was aspirating. After many tests, medications, and hospitalizations it was discovered that Deklin was aspirating liquids he took in orally as well as from his reflux. After many discussions his doctors and I decided to go ahead with a Nissen (surgery to prevent reflux) and G-tube placement.
When Deklin's G-tube was originally place it was used for venting (he couldn't burp because of the nissen) and supplemental feeding. Over the last year Deklin's reflux has comeback with a vengeance, and he stopped tolerating G-tube feeds. After frequent vomiting losing almost 10lbs over about 4 months the decision was made to convert Deklin's G-tube too a G/J tube.
Deklin is currently fed an elemental formula 23 hours a day directly into his intestines via his J-tube and We use the G for venting/draining his stomach. If it weren't for Deklin's tube he wouldn't be able to get (and keep in) the nutrition, hydration, and medications that keep him alive.
No comments:
Post a Comment