Liam Carter-Wilson
|
Liam Carter-Wilson
June '98
Liam had congential vocal cord paralysis, and a tracheostomy inserted at 5 weeks old.
Over the first year of his life, he learned to vocalise, beginning with eh noises. At 15 months, his vocal cord paralysis had corrected itself. However part of his windpipe was collapsing. This was stented by an endotracheal tube, unfortunately it was too tight and caused abrasion and then spiral granulation. Liam continues to have his trachy in situ as a result.
There is an expectation that towards end '98 as we enter summer, the windpipe will have grown considerably hopefully permitting decannulation. Meanwhile a speech valve is used sporadically (it is difficult for Liam to understand the benefits of this as he can hear his own voice, and the valve requires him to breath differently) or is blocked off with tape. Constant infections don't allow us to do this often.
Liam continues to be a great little chap and a credit to all trachy kids. We have both embraced Makaton sign language as this has clearly encouraged Liam to communicate. The greatest joy is to see him sign whilst reading a book. He constantly tries verbalisation, and is not considered too behind in his speech development.
There is no question raising a trachy child is hard (sadly Liam's father and I are now separated). But, it is wonderful to see this boy grow stronger each day, and rightly embrace life with such verocity, hope and humour. Hang in there, the rewards are enormous.
- Update 12/98: Liam Carter-Wilson has had his tube out (16 November 1998) and is doing splendidly well. Loud I'll say, and running around like a box standard 2 1/2 year old!!!! And whatsmore, no infections since the tube came out.
- Jenny Carter: jenny_carter@xtra.co.nz
