Thank YOU for another landmark on Memory Lane

If you want me to cut to the chase, Ava came home today trach-free!  If you're someone who wants the whole story...here goes.

We checked in at Children's Mercy yesterday(Thursday) at noon.  After a short wait we were taken back into a pre-surgery room to get vitals, get Ava changed into a gown, etc.  We waited after this for about an hour and a half in order to consult with the anesthesiologist and the ENT doctor who was doing Ava's bronchoscopy and decanulation.  The anesthesiologist came first and after a short visit we waited a while longer for our ENT doctor.  She came around 2:30pm and after discussing the plan we were ushered back to "Reunion Avenue" where we gave Ava hugs and kisses before she was taken back to the operating room. 

It was probably just 10 minutes later when we were called to consult with the ENT doctor who had already completed the bronchoscopy (scope down the airway).  She was very pleased with what she saw and didn't have to remove any granulation tissue.  We now just waited for Ava to come out of the anesthetic.  Less than 20 minutes later they asked one of us to come to the post-op recovery area to console Ava who was pretty grumpy coming out of the anesthetic.  So I went back and felt like I was wrestling an alligator for a while until they could get us a room on a regular floor in the hospital for our overnight stay.  Ava required oxygen at this time in order to keep her oxygen saturation at 95 or above.  The rest of the afternoon and evening she was moody on and off.  Our ENT doctor was going to come by later in the evening to remove her trach and allow her to spend the night without it. 

A little after 6:00pm our doctor came and Zack was able to remove Ava's trach while she was asleep in my arms.  After some labored breathing and some repositioning, Ava was breathing comfortably and just needed a little oxygen "blow-by."  (Oxygen blown in the area she was breathing.)  Not long after that Ava was not needing oxygen and slept a little while longer before being awake for a couple hours to cuddle with mommy and daddy. 

Throughout the night Ava slept well and maintained her oxygen saturation around 94-98% without any oxygen support.  Her site where the trach tube used to be was left open without any bandage and the hole reduced some in size.  This morning she was able to finally eat food and drink her milk, after only getting water (and IV fluids) for almost 30 hours.  We were discharge to go home around 11am and Ava has been doing great at home.  With a little band-aid over her trach site, she is back to playing with her sister in the comfort of her own home.  We will go back to see the ENT doctor in 3-4 weeks and we will learn what the next steps are for Ava's site.  Typically if a trach is in place for over a year there is only about a 5% chance it will close the whole way on its own.  If Ava's does not close it will need to be sutured shut and down the road will most likely need a little plastic surgery to minimize the visibility of the scar. 

With all of that said, first and foremost we are so thankful for God's hand in all of this.  He has guided us through, every step of the way and will continue to be with us through the journey of parenthood.  And from there the thank-yous are endless.  Our parents have been amazing...supporting us, being there for us physically and emotionally, and being tremendous models for us as parents.  Our friends (near and far), neighbors, church family, strangers, all of the individuals at Overland Park Regional and Children's Mercy from the doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, receptionists, respiratory therapist, and on and on and on.  We can truly say we couldn't have gotten through this chapter in our lives without EVERYONE.  So if you are reading this, that means you.  And if you are reading this and know of someone who we have come into contact with over the last twenty-two months...forward this blog to them.  We know that there are still "epilogues" to this chapter and there will then be many more chapters to come but at this point in Ava's recovery and overcoming the experience of having a trach, we can't be more thankful. 

Swinging before heading to Children's Mercy.

Quick cat-nap before checking in.

Trying to pass time while we wait for the doctor.

The blinds helped pass a little time too.

Daddy getting to remove her trach for the last time.

Watching Ava's response to being trach-free.

Finally...food!

 

Can't get enough Cheerios!!!

 

 



Let's blow this popsicle stand...and leave that old trach behind!