Things started moving very quickly once Ben was off oxygen. He started taking little walking trips and was able to go back to school. He is at the point where we just need to manage his pain and let him heal. He is also on iron to help him replenish the blood he lost. So...home [...]
So over the past few days, it became clear that Ben has an effusion (fluid in his lung cavity). It’s likely that blood seeped out and collected there post-op, which is somewhat common. This compressed a portion of his lungs and made it more difficult to breathe. His hemoglobin level was a bit lower from [...]
Despite my excitement over getting extubated in the OR, Ben had an awful first night. His oxygen sats dropped to the low 80’s, and he was visibly struggling to breathe. His heart rate and RESP rates were high, and it was apparent he was working hard to breathe. We used the oxygen mask for a [...]
We were up super early this morning. I woke up at 4:30, finished packing and got us ready. We will not be returning to our hospital room because when we arrive back at Shriners they will put us right across from the nursing unit. So...that means packing up, and it’s amazing how much crap you [...]
We were transferred to Shriner's Monday. It was a crazy, busy day. Once we arrived, I had some paperwork to do and Ben was examined regularly to ensure that he was doing well because he had just gotten off anesthesia. So far, so good. Ben has 5 screws (posts/pins) installed into his head holding his [...]
This morning the medicine they gave me to make my back hurt made me get sick. Mom said I had to sit in my wheelchair today and I didn't want to. I was scared of it hurting too much, but I really liked sitting up and I stayed in it all afternoon. I even got [...]