Accessory removal

The past few days have been wonderful. I mean downright blissful. If we were at home in our normal setting I would probably classify them as one of those days we just muddled through, but in full glance of the circumstance it has been great. On Sunday and Monday we were allowed to get Sutton out of bed and hold him for as long as he would tolerate. Eventually he got tired, but as you can see in the picture he was one very happy guy! (Sorry for the picture of the back of the camera - I don't have a computer to load them on here, so this was the best I could do).

On Monday he had an esophagram to look at the lower portion of the graft and it seems to be holding up very well. Unfortunately, there is no great option to observe the upper portion at this time as scoping him is not safe at this stage of healing. He is aspirating a little bit, but that is not unexpected given his current vocal cord function. 

Tuesday, occupational therapy got him a "feeding chair." Obviously he won't be doing any feeding of himself in it (other than the measly 2 ml he is getting every hour through his button right now), but he had a grand time sitting up in the chair and playing. So well that he got his best nap (several hours) and best nights sleep (his normal bedtime of about 8:00 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. with minor disturbances throughout the night) yet. 

Today he went back to the OR to have the external tissue flap and his two drains removed. He also had a larger PICC line placed because he had pulled his out a couple of centimeters. His neck is fully stitched now, but where the drains came out was left open and just covered with gauze so drainage can continue to escape as he heals. He's starting to look like a baby again! 

They also took a look at his airway and vocal cords today, but we have not gotten the report from ENT yet. Plastic surgery did say when they were trying to visualize the other structures, they got a glimpse of the upper portion of the tissue graft and it was nice and pink. 

Sutton is really loving the burial of his soft arm restraints and his ability to move (within reason) however he would be most comfortable. He is a little upset right now, most likely from a sore throat from reintubation/extubation and them looking at his airway and vocal cords, but our nurse seems to have a good grip on getting him comfortable. 

Tomorrow we should get a weaning schedule for all of the medications he has been on. We will be moving to some doses through his button instead of IV, since that is what he will be sent home with. 

All in all we are seeing continual, forward progress. We can't ask for anything more than that! Thank you for all the prayers for his safety and progress as well as for us in helping to maintain patience, peace and perspective!

"But the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength." 2 Timothy 4:17