Cassie
 |
Update August 2003: Cassie is home and doing great. She has responded very well to all that she has been through. She had a Laryngotrechealplasty done on July 29th, 2003. She only spent two weeks in the hospital, so this update is very late. She didn't need to be sedated the whole time she was in I.C.U like they thought she would. She didn't pull at any tubes or wires so they let her be awake, but comfortable with pain killers. As soon as she off of I.C.U. and on the regular floor, she spent most of her time in the play room. The child life volunteers brought her a Nintendo Gamecube and a DVD player for her, for when the play room was closed. They all loved her. Every morning she would push the nurse button when she woke up. The nurse would answer her through the intercom and say "good morning Princess." She went to surgery with a tiara on and spent most of her stay wearing it. She became known as "the Princess."
 |
Since she has been home, she has taken a real bath. Meaning, she didn't have to use the infant support tub in the bath and that she had much more than just an inch of water in the tub. Also she went in a pool without the infant/toddler support floaty. She actually wore a life jacket, like the other kids get to. She has also taken a shower, and loved it. And now for the biggest news yet. She started Kindergarten. Her first day was August 20, 2003. She said she had lots of fun. Also, Cassie is eating much more now that she has had this surgery. She says it feels better now to swallow her food.
 |
As for April, She spent time with Grandma and friends while Cassie and I were in the hospital. I stayed with Cassie full time. April has been feeling pretty neglected. I arranged for someone to take her and get her ears pierced, so that made things a little easier. We went to the water park last night, and both girls had a blast. April went down the big water slide and I think she got a little scared towards the end, because she screamed as she hit the water. She came up laughing though so she was ok. April started 7th grade this year. I can't believe she is that old. She has really turned out to be a nice young lady. All that this family has been through, and April has not had to repeat a grade at all. She will be trying out for cheerleading soon.
I must close for now. We've been busy, busy, busy. It feels like life is really starting now. With this successful surgery, I feel like a lot of weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Update June 2004:
As spring was ending and it started getting hotter and
muggier here in Northern Kentucky, Cassie started having problems breathing, and having
tachycardia episodes.
The last time before these episodes that she had an M,L, & B done was January 9, 2004. Dr Cotton's team said that there was still no growth of her airway but she had
stabilized at 4.0. That was after being dilated from 3.5 to 4.0.
As she started going outside more and playing and running around in the heat, she started to not be able to stay out very long. She would be outside for about a half an hour and have to come in for an hour or so and sit in the a/c until her breathing,
heart rate, and color returned to normal. At one point her temperature even went up, I had to put her in a tub of room temperature water for awhile to get it under control.
She has recently also choked while she was eating. This made her afraid to eat for awhile. She was able to cough it up and clear it herself, but it still scared her to the point that she didn't eat very well for a few days. She has the "failure to thrive" history. That has been ruled out, but it's obviously still a concern. She is back eating as well as she did before. While she was not eating very well those few days, I
supplemented her with vitamin D milk with 50/50 heavy whipping cream and I added ovaltine. This gave
her calories, energy, and vitamins.
I called Dr. Cotton's office and told them what was going on. They seemed very concerned. She was due for her next M,L, & B at the end of July, 2004, and this was only the middle of May 2004. They scheduled her for an M,L, & B for May 25, 2004.
I have to give special mention to Dee Dee in "same day surgery" for her above and beyond care that she has given us. It makes all this a lot easier, to know that we have such a good friend there to talk to about all this. Thank you Dee Dee. We love you.
Cassie had her M,L, & B (May 25, 2004) done and she did great in the O.R. and recovery room. Dr. Cotton's team expressed more concern to me regarding the lack of growth of her airway and the problems she was having as a result.
She was still at a 4.0, no growth was noted. They said this was not life-threatening, at this time, but they were concerned for her quality of life. Being that she is only six years old and has to spend
a lot of time resting after short periods of play. They scheduled her for another L,T,P
(Laryngotracheoplasty) for August 12, 2004 at 9:00am. So the same surgery and time frame that we dealt with last summer, two weeks in the hospital, we will be doing
it again this summer. She did great last year, so I'm sure she will be do fine this time as well. Pray for her anyway.
Just like last summer before her surgery, I'm planning a trip to the Cincinnati zoo and Paramount King's Island. I try to do as many fun things for her as I can. If anyone has any good ideas, email me and let me know.
Thanks for all your prayers.
Jean and the girls
- Miracles Happen Journal
- E-mail Cassie's Mom Jean
