RSV

For any of you who aren't my friend on Facebook, or for those of you who haven't heard, little Carter couldn't handle all the sickness floating around our house. My girls have been struggling with a cold; they have been coughing and complaining of a sore throat for over a week now. Carter started with a runny nose first and I panicked a little (that's my major struggle with anxiety--I always imagine the worst when it comes to health matters). I put him under a humidifier and started putting saline in his nose and suctioning it out the best I could. A couple days later he had a little cough, but he was still doing well, eating fine and not too sad.

Thursday night I kept feeling like he was getting worse, but there was no evidence of that. He didn't have a fever, was still nursing, and sounded like he was breathing alright. Friday morning he was awake for about an hour, and not sad at all, so I still thought he was okay. By 11:00, his appetite had diminished and by 2:00 he had a fever of 100.5. I called the doctor's office and told the nurse what was going on and we got in to see the doctor around 4:00. By then, he had really taken a turn and was not doing well at all. He was only getting about 80-85% oxygen on room air and really grunting a lot. It was decided that he needed to be admitted to the hospital.

An hour later at the hospital, he was down to 75%, with some major retractions when he breathed. He had completely lost his spunk and didn't put forth any fuss when the nurses started working on him. Respiratory suctioned him out and started him on oxygen, but within an hour or so, they decided it wasn't enough, and put him on a machine called a CPAP, which essentially blows air into his lungs to keep them open so he wouldn't have to work so hard. They started two IVs for fluids (he wouldn't eat or even try), and put a tube down his throat to vent his stomach and to get some of the mucus out there. I took this picture after they were finished hooking him up on Friday night.


Since then, he has gotten a little worse. He stayed on the CPAP and was doing alright, but was still working a little harder to breathe than they wanted. He wasn't allowed to have any food, but got IV nourishment. Yesterday he was a lot more feisty, and wasn't the least bit happy about what was happening to him. Jeff stayed with him last night, and said around 3 am his coloring wasn't good and he was lethargic again. The decision was made to intubate him. When I heard that, I was sad. I thought that meant he had taken a step back. But after seeing him for myself today, I realize that it's not all bad. He just wore himself out trying to breathe, and he can't get the secretions out by himself. Also, RSV takes a few days to peak before it plateaus and you see improvement, so it was probably a combination of the RSV getting worse and his body tiring out that made it necessary for the ventilator (I don't have a pic of him on the vent yet, but it doesn't look nearly as bad as that scary pic of the CPAP mask).

He still will be in the hospital for several days. It's hard to know how many, but we are hopeful that within a day or two he will start to improve and will get to be extubated. For now, he is sedated and resting comfortably and just needs time to get better. We are starting to give him breast milk through his tube and we'll see how he tolerates that. I'm glad to be able to do something, even something so small, for him. It's hard to see him helpless and I have found myself wondering what else I could have done for him. I tried to keep the sick kids away and do everything I knew how to do to make sure he didn't get sick(including pleading with the Lord daily to keep him healthy), but it didn't help. I guess we have more things to learn from this experience and I am determined to learn them. One thing I have realized is that it isn't my fault. I am sad that I can't protect him from everything, but I know that's not realistic. One of the "blessings" of a mortal body is the ability to experience all things, even sickness that lands you in the hospital at 3 weeks old.

Today I am feeling encouraged. I feel peaceful. I know it's because of the many, many people who are fasting and praying for him. Thank you all so so so much. We have felt such an outpouring of love that puts a lump in my throat. Carter is so lucky to have so many people caring for him. And I am patiently waiting the time I can hold him again and tell him just how lucky he is.

More updates later as things change (hopefully for the better!)