Joe Hartill
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Joe Hartill born on the 18-09-02, weighing only 1 lb, 7oz at just 24 weeks gestation; my due date was the 4-01-03. My boy was given only a 25% chance of survival. We were devastated, the thought of losing your child is unbearable, and what was to come in the following months was phenonimal, he has had pneumonia 3 times, 1 hemorrhage on the left hand side of his brain, a P.D.A and a R.O.P and laryngeal cysts, which have led to subglottic stenosis.
Joe was rushed to hospital 2 weeks ago where an emergency tracheotomy was performed, Joe has responded very well to surgery and is doing well at the moment. Through all of this I am not coping too well at all. I am in constant touch with Aaron's Page and I find it very educational.
Update, August 2003: Joe has recently been back in ICU with a chest infection. He was ventilated again for 2 days, but he is on the mend again now. He is now back on the ward and we took Joe for is first outing since having his trachy done. It was great!
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Joe & Callum
Update October 2003: Joe is doing great, a few chest infections, but Joe has managed to fight it himself and not be ventilated, well done Joe! Joe also goes for a scope on the 20th of November to see when he will be decannulated. The photo above is Joe and his very first best friend, Callum Bentley a 26-week preemie who is now due to be decannulated in a weeks time, after having his trachy in since being 3 months old. Love and prayers to Billy, Joanne and Callum, hope all goes well. I do hope your boys are doing good. I often think of your lovely family and what Aaron's page as done for me and my family, once again thank you.
Update April
2004: Joe went for a scope in November. I was expecting some good news, but
I was very dissapointed. Joe was still growing laryngeal cysts. Then
Joe went for another scope on the 2nd April and I couldn't believe that my son is going to be decannulated in a few months
time. I'm excited, but very frightened at the same time.
Update, August 2004: JUST A LITTLE UPDATE ON MY MIGHTY JOE. HE'S DOING FANTASTIC AT THE MOMENT. HE WENT FOR A ROUTINE SCOPE AGAIN ON THE 22ND JULY. WE WERE HOPING THAT OUR BOY WAS GOING TO COME BACK FROM THEATRE WITH NO TUBE, BUT THAT WAS NOT TO BE. SCAR TISSUE THAT IS DOWN JOES TRACHEA IS TOO THICK TO BE REMOVED BY LASER. SO JOE HAS TO HAVE OPEN SURGERY FOR IT TO BE REMOVED. THEN THEY ARE GOING TO DECANNULATE JOE AT THE SAME TIME. I'M SO EXCITED!
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Update June 2005: Joe was scheduled for decanulation on the 19th May, which was a success. He was taken straight to PICU were he was intubated and things were looking good, Joe developed pneumonia and needed to be ventilated a little longer than anticipated. We managed to get Joe off the ventilator on 25th May 05 and he managed well overnight. By the next morning Joe was struggling again to breath, so had to be intubated once again. Today the 27th May 05 Joe will be took to theatre again to have his trach put back in. My boy did not cope with his trach out and we are investigating problems now higher up in the trachea.
Update August 2005: JOE WAS SUCCESSFULLY DECANNULATED ON THE 24 JUNE 2005 AND IS DOING FANTASTIC! THERE WERE NO INVESTIGATIONS INTO WHY JOE'S LAST SCHEDULED DECANNULATION FAILED, HIS AIRWAYS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE NOW AND DOCTORS SAY THAT JOE JUST PICKED UP BUGS BEFORE SURGERY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT THAT MY FAMILY HAS RECEIVED FROM AARONS PAGE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND USE AARONS PAGE AS MY MAIN POINT OF CONTACT. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU SO MUCH. LISA, ADRIAN ,LUKE GRACE AND OUR MIGHTY JOE XXXXXXXXXXX
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All my love and prayers, Lisa
