Categories: uncategorized
Date: 25 April 2006 02:04:03
or beloved mates of mine in need of our prayers and if you're local, of our practical support...
Daniel had a shunt fitted nearly 2 weeks ago and he hasn't been puttin weight on properly, partly due to meds giving him runs and partly it seems due to feeding not quite adequately. He's a lanky little man and is feeding a bigger body than most babies his age as well as trying to fight off infections and heal from ops and cope with whatever else his little body is going though.
Dad wrote last night:
From: "Colin"
Date: 24 April 2006 00:04:33 BDT
Subject: Daniel update - really hard day
Hi folks,
It's been an exceptionally difficult day for us today. It started when Lyn tested Daniel's urine and detected leucocytes and nitrates, which is what we've been alerted to watch out for - it means infection. We called BCH and they said we could go to the Walsall Manor because the treatment would be antibiotics wherever we went, so we decided for the Manor.
We arrived there, were called into A+E almost immediately (much to the disgruntlement of a few other patients that may have been waiting for quite a while) and a doctor attended to us straight away. They ran more tests and in those tests, the nitrates were zero, but he was showing blood in his urine. They have taken several samples to check over the next few days to see if there are bacteria. What was surmised after all the tests though was that it wasn't his shunt that was infected, but that they were looking for a urinary infection, which is something Daniel is at high risk of developing due to the cathetering.
We were sent to the Paediatric Assessment Unit at the Manor and Daniel had lots of tests to check this and that, and then the breastfeeding support midwife paid us a visit, and suggested a change in techniques in feeding which will enable Daniel to have more access to the richer, more nutritious hind milk which will help his weight situation. He has put on almost an ounce since last week, but he really does need to put on a lot more. More weight will strengthen him so fight off infection. However, getting him to learn this new technique is very frustrating and it's going to take a while to master.
In case of infection, Daniel has been prescribed cephalexin again, which is what he was on before and caused so much diarrhoea. However, with the new feeding regimen, the effects of that should be counteracted. It might only be for a few days as well, awaiting results of the tests, and also after consulting the Children's Hospital.
We're tired - no, exhausted; stressed, worried, scared that things like today could be the norm...wondering how we'll cope...crying at how unfair this is on such a young life. We know that God is in control, and that He doesn't let you go through more than you can handle. We just don't want to have to handle this. 15 weeks old on Tuesday - already been through so much.
We're all home - Daniel's tucked up in bed, sleeping, oblivious.
It's been a hard day.
Thank you all for your prayers at church in the morning and through the day. We've had lovely messages and we appreciate them so much. Thank you. They do mean so much to us.
Blessings and love,
Colin, Lyn and Daniel.x