Jorey Wayne Anderson
 |
Jorey was born 03/14/02 2lbs 6 ounces, 10 weeks early. during the beginning of the 3rd trimester, tests determined that Jolene developed pre-eclampsia and Toxemia. Jolene was admitted on 03/13/02, what we were hoping was going to be "a long stay". They administered the 1st does of steroids to help mature Jorey’s lungs, then the next morning Jolene called me at home and said, “They're going in to get him”, they were not able to give the 2nd dose of steroids, His heart rhythm had slowed down and he wasn't moving a whole lot. Needless to say everything was a blur up to when Jorey was born. He breathed on his own for 4 hrs, then the O2, then C-Pap, and then intubated that night. His lungs were extremely immature, the vent setting was so low it couldn't lift a feather, but still strong enough to tare up his lungs. But as you know it is a choice of "the better of two evils". In our case, so it was life or torn up lungs. As a result he acquired BPD.
 |
His lungs were still having a hard time keeping up with his body. after 3 months we knew we had a choice to make, have a better quality of life with the trach or keep believing that he is going be getting well soon and won't need the trach. We could not deny it any longer we had a baby that was going to have a long road ahead of him. July 3rd 2002 the surgery for the trach, G-tube and a couple of Hernia repairs were done. Everything went like clock work, recovery was great.
THEN...a nurse I was not familiar with was caring for him, Jolene asked when can he start "eating", the nurse said "we will be giving him some Pedialyte after the X-ray". We went to lunch came back as saw that the NG-Tube had not been put in yet. and asked again "Boy I imagine he is hungry should we give him something." she proceeded to insert the
NG-tube, because it was too early to use the G-tube. As she inserted it I noticed that Jorey was wincing, something he didn't do. I said did it go down the wrong way? She did the 3 steps to check if the tube is correctly placed.
1) measure 2) listen for sound, (this was not possible because of the noise from the
ventilator.) and 3) residuals from the stomach, (no residuals in the syringe just a vacuum). She said "oh that's common when they haven't eaten."
I asked again do you think it is missed placed. Her response was NO. Again I asked,
"So, you don't think it is possible that it went into the lung." She said that is
virtually impossible and then proceeded to draw a diagram in the air of how that would even be possible.
Well at 3:00 am, We get a call from the hospital saying, "It seems that Jorey's NG-Tube was placed in his lung”....He had 150cc's of Pedialyte in his right lung. So for 3 days we didn't know if we were going to lose him or not. But, nurse be damned, Jorey conquered.
 |
A month later we left the NICU and moved into the Trach Ward; pretty uneventful after that. But, being in the hospital you're apt to pick up something...Staph, C-Dif, Rodo., all the fun stuff.... We spent 7 more months there. Jorey did get a Nissan stomach wrap/fundoplication, the doctors were concerned with his Acid-Reflux, and after a lot of praying decided to do it. He came home 01/22/03.
Jorey has been off the ventilator, since 06/30/04. The doctors have not been in any rush to get him decannulated, they want to get past the "Cold and Flu season". In fact we have been given a date now March 4th is 'D-Day'.
Jorey is a big Brother now, Sam is just as normal as they come, thank you God. Jolene was a Saint going through out the whole pregnancy. The doctors did a test that only cost $136.00, which was able to determine that the possibilities of Sam having the same risks as Jorey did, but through rigorous treatments of Heparin shots All went well.
 |
God bless
Mark
