Hey all it's been a while and I gotta bring everyone up to speed. As most know I changed jobs and work 2nd shift now at Sikorsky building sub hunters so I get on late. Sooooo here we go.
Shortly after her last surgery we had a little episode that was indeed a setback. Ash has started out of the blue choking and having violent vomiting episodes and we were off to Yale. after being admitted she went down for a swallow test and lo and behold a
stricture had formed at the stomach connection. Basicly the "tube" for lack of a better word was less than the diameter of a strand of yarn. The decision was made to begin a series of dialations much like a Coronary Angioplasty where a scope with a baloon is used to open a passageway.
The reason for this option is that A: they really want to avoid another invasive surgery, B: the repair site would need to heal via no food intake for some time and as is she is a light lil thing tipping the scales at a whopping 20 lbs today. Back then when she was 17lbs they were concerned that IV only weight gain would be more fluid retension than anything.
So over tha last 6 months they have done a total of 6 dialations under general anesthettics
(And I to this day have no idea why a RECOVERY ROOM is the noisiest place in the whole dang hospital) noting a complete success! Now Yale has a new plan going forward with other childern thanks to Ash's great response. She now has an allmost unrestricted path which is awesome news.
With the success of this comes the grant of her next MAJOR surgery. In two weeks she goes in on April 6th to have the colostomy bag removed and intestinal tract reconnected and "jump started". This truthfully is no HUGE thing but it is a big proceedure. Several things: Abdomen muscles can easily rip the repair site apart and kids are well ... ... kids. She is going to have to be kept sedate. Sedation for kids is trouble as it also slows down the respritory system. To keep that up to speed
intibation is required. With intubation comes the risk of damage to the esophogeal repair. It is going to be a lengthy stay at Yale (Couple weeks = the best scenereo)
It is odd how the events that unfold before
us we can quickly grab ahold of and look beyond the problems at hand. A year ago I was a mess, A year later I am a mess of a different sort. Alot has happened with her in a normal childhood sense, the learning to walk, become independant, explore everything with no fear and total innoscence. Things change and we as adults can look at things that may not be pleasent and adapt in a manner that makes us "Grown up". Ash is showing me that even when odds are against you to a certain extent, growing up is just another step that is yet to unfold before
her.
Sorry for the late update, Thanks guys for being here for us!
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