Hannah Kathryn Young
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After an unremarkable pregnancy, our second child, Hannah Kathryn Young was born on February 11, 1999. At birth she was noted to have some breathing difficulty. She was taken to ICU and checked out. We were told everything was fine. She did have stridor which was the noise that we would hear especially when she would cry. We were told she would outgrow this. A couple of days after we came home from the hospital, we were in the pediatricians office to voice our concern over this "wheezing" type sounding noise. We were assured that everything was okay and that alot of children are born making a stridorous noise diagnosed in Hannah as tracheomalasia (a soft trachea). We were given the option to do some tests that would reassure us that she was okay. At two weeks of age, she underwent a barium swallow and an upper airway study. She was shown to have laryngomalacia (a softening of the larynx). Again, we were told she would outgrow this. In the meantime, she was eating well and gaining weight. Other than the "noise" she would make, she seemed to be a thriving little baby. At the two month check up she had still not outgrown this condition. We took her to an ENT. Our worst fears came true. We learned that the tests that were previously done did not show her vocal chords. Upon a nasal endoscopy (the use of a lighted scope inserted thru the nose), our ENT informed us that her vocal chords did not move. She had congenital bilateral vocal chord paralysis which meant both vocal chords were paralyzed (the cause of which is unknown). He then ordered an MRI to rule out Arnold Chiari malformation. The MRI was normal. Thank God there were no other anomalies. He then recommended a tracheostomy. We sought a second opinion. The same recommendation. On May 6, 1999 at 3 months of age, Hannah had her trach put in. Less than 24 hours later, we began to hear audible loud cries from Hannah. Her trach had become dislodged. She was taken back into the operating room and a longer trach was put in. After 9 overwhelming days in the hospital we were released to go home and care for Hannah. It has now been two months since her trach was put in. All is well. We give God the thanks and praise for our little angel. We believe God for Hannah's healing. Meanwhile, we will trust his plan for our lives and little Hannah's. We give Him all the praise. God Bless, Rebecca Young
UPDATE: July 1999 - At a visit to the ENT recently, the vocal chords were viewed and are moving a little bit more than they were 2 months ago before the surgery. Praise God!! There is hope!
UPDATE: October 1999 - A scope done by our ENT reveals more movement in the vocal chords, but we still have a ways to go. Hannah is now 8 months old and we're starting to work with the Passy-Muir valve. We still believe God for Hannah's complete healing!
UPDATE: February 2000 - Hannah is now one year old. Another scope in the ENT office reveal there has been no improvement in the movement of Hannah's vocal chords since our Oct. 1999 visit. However, she has improved. She has an air leak around her trach. She can say bye-bye, hi, and mama. What a blessing to be able to hear our little girl. The doctors had initially told us that she would have the "potential" to speak (with the trach). Now, she is saying some words. With God, all things are possible!
UPDATE: May 2000 - A visit to Dr. Robin Cotton in Cincinnati, OH who is a leading pediatric airway specialist revealed Hannah's vocal chords were indeed paralyzed. He also said that if the vocal chord movement were to return to normal, that it would have done so by now. He recommended a procedure called an arytenoidectomy. This is essentially a surgical procedure used to tie back one vocal chord to allow for an adequate airway. (Hannah's vocal chords were paralyzed in the closed position).
UPDATE: June 2000 - Hannah had the arytenoidectomy done on 6/1/00 and is doing just fine. The plan is to use the Passy-Muir valve as a transitioning tool by essentially helping to wean her from the trach. We go back in July and the plan is to have another scope done and try capping the trach for 48 hours. If Hannah is able to tolerate this, the trach will be removed. If it is not tolerated well, we will come back to work with capping her trach and go back for decannulation at a later date. Either way, God is good. To Him be all the glory and praise!
UPDATE: July 19, 2000 - HANNAH HAS BEEN DECANNULATED!!!!!!!!!! A recent scope revealed Hannah's arytenoidectomy surgery had yielded some of the best results seen from this surgery. After a downsizing in trach tube size, a 48 hour capping trial was started. Hannah tolerated the cap beautifully. It was then decided to remove the trach tube. The doctors let me remove the trach tube and I didn't have to put another one back in as we had done for the last fifteen months! It was a glorious day! For the next 48 hours Hannah would again be monitored. Once again, everything went smoothly. Not one problem. Hannah is being able to talk and is even trying to say some new words. We believe God for Hannah's voice to be totally restored. We give God all the thanks and praise for what he has done in our lives during this journey, and especially for our little miracle, Hannah.
If you need to know if God still is in the healing business, if you need a reason to praise Him, or serve Him, just look at this exceeding and abundantly great miracle in our lives.
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.." Ephesians 3:20
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December 2000
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Hannah & Andrew
Update: MARCH 2001 - Hannah will have her stoma closed in about two weeks. We are so very excited. The closing of the stoma should only be more positives. It should allow for Hannah to have a stronger voice without air escaping thru the stoma hole. Her speech therapist of 6 months says that Hannah is right on target for her speech and language development, so she is discharging us. She also says Hannah has NORMAL voice quality. Praise God! He has restored her voice! We again give God all glory and honor for all the AWESOME things he has done.
Update: JUNE 2001 - The actual procedure to get the stoma to close on its own was to core out the existing stoma hole. This actually made the hole bigger. This fresh skin then adhered to other skin allowing for a nice closure own its own. Hannah has a small scar on the outside where the trach used to be. She had a scope done on 6/22/01. Dr. Cotton says everything looks great. No scar tissue, nothing! We have to go back in one year for another scope.
Hannah is as normal as any other two year old. She loves watching Barney and playing with her big brother, Andrew. She can say most of her ABC's and can count to twelve. We continue to be amazed at the miracle God has given us. We are so thankful and blessed.
Update: June 7, 2002 - One year check-up and scope. Dr. Cotton said, "Her airway looks great, you could not ask for a better airway." Because she is so terribly shy, we had made a brief tape recording of Hannah talking. We knew she wouldn't talk to them. They were all so amazed at how great she sounded. Another testimony to God. We again thank him and praise him for ALL he has done!
If anyone would like to e-mail me please do so at Sisbec@msn.com.
