Rhonda and Jason

Rhonda and Jason
Our Wedding Day

Monday, April 30, 2012

Esther at 18 days

Restful night for Esther, mama and papa.  She pooped!  Sounds strange, but this is a very good sign that all the organs previously located in her chest are now beginning to work.  There is a "pocket" of air in her abdomen that is of some concern and will be monitored.  Other than that, plans are to change to an oscillator vent today.  This is a breathing machine that actually shakes Esther and is meant to encourage her lungs to open more.  There has been no change in her "lung volumes" today, but the doctors did mention seeing her left lung opening more.
Thank you Heavenly Father for another day with your precious child Esther.  Lord we pray your continued grace and healing in her.  We ask that your timing might include Esther's lungs functioning well  enough to come off ECMO before they need to change circuits and set her back again.  We, as well as Esther are in your hands Father, and we will trust in you completely.

5 comments:

  1. AMEN!!!!! I'm in agreement with your prayers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah the shaker ventilator, kind of hard to see them on as they are constantly shaking, but can be good for their lungs!! p.s. I love the picture of her with her squished cheeks, we have lots of pictures of our little man like that, too. Esther is such a fighter, God is good! I heard this song today and thought of you guys "Blessings" by Laura Story. Praying for you always!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness, I am so happy I have tears in my eyes! What a great day! Pooping is such a great accomplishment! Jacob's bowels got unknowingly kinked while his repair was being done so his pooping was an extra happy sign that he didn't have any dead bowel. It is so difficult to see your baby on the oscillator, but what amazing news that she will be getting off ECMO! Jakey didn't have ECMO so this was the most difficult thing for us to see him go through. In fact, the paralytic caused him to be so swollen, he was at times unrecognizable to us. We didn't take any pictures at his worst. We just had to keep in mind it was for the best to give his little lungs a rest and time to heal and grow. Don't get disheartened or discouraged if it feels at some point like you are taking another one of those steps backward. It's really just one more step on the road to recovery. :) I will be praying that all goes smoothly, specifically for her air pocket and that she doesn't fight the oscillator so they don't have to give her so the paralytic meds.

    Lots of prayers from the Rondeau Family!

    Katy

    ReplyDelete
  4. Still praying with the three of you - Esther is here for such a time as this. God bless you guys.

    ReplyDelete