Day 39 & looking back at the lungs (week 2)

Going in to see Tabitha each morning is the highlight of my day, but I have to be strong because you're never sure what news might await you. This morning was one of those mornings. As I walked into the NICU and started washing my hands the doctor saw me and started telling me that they found blood in Tabitha's stools this morning at 5am. Now if you've read up on any complications that commonly occur in prem babies, you'll find a condition called NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis) right there under the section for 'serious complications'. Tabitha has covered most of the headings under 'serious complications' already. But NEC she has not had. It is an infection that causes the death of intestinal tissue and can be fatal if not treated promptly. So naturally this is the first thing that came to mind. Yet her blood tests did not pick up any infections and its hard to determine if some other symptoms can be related, e.g. low platelet count and temperature instability. X-rays were done and showed some thickening of the wall of the large intestines, also an indication of NEC. The doctor had to stop her feeds, for 5 days this time, and ordered some TPN (intravenous lab food) instead. I hope she doesn't get too hungry.

As I mentioned before, the bad thing is that the neurosurgeon will not even think of putting in the shunt if they suspect any infection. And her little head is still growing. Another extra cm today - 34.5cm. She is also still getting brady's (sudden drops in heart rate) which might also be due to the pressure building up in her head. She is also very sensitive to touching her head, so I did not even pick her up today. I thought it best to just put my hand on her little body, hold her hand and kiss her on the cheek. A very, very soft cheek that is very nice to kiss, if I may add.

Another explanation for the blood might be the enema that she received yesterday to get her tummy going again. The tube might have caused damage to the sensitive tissue in there and could be responsible for the blood. As unpleasant as it may sound, lets hope that is all it was. If it is NEC, let's hope and pray that it will not get worse but get better, quickly. She did not have any more nr 2's during the day.

She put up a good cry today. Shame, one day I'll try to take a little video of it, because it is the softest, most feminine, most polite cry I've ever heard. But I am way too busy trying to comfort her when she lets me know that she is unhappy that taking a video does not come to mind. Up to now she has not shown much interest in her dummy, but the dummy worked wonders to console her today. She showed me that she does, in fact, have adequate sucking abilities! Making mommy proud. Good practice for breast feeding, hopefully one of these days. 

Sucking my dummy vigorously...

One thing that encourages me is to look back and see the many miracles that God has performed in Tabitha's short little life already.  I'd like to tell you about the miracle of the lungs that happened on day 15, following the story told in my post, 'The first week'. That Tuesday daddy went back to work. I was not allowed to drive yet, so Wessel dropped me off in the morning. I was alone, without the support of my husband at hospital for the first time. The doctor showed me her lungs' x-ray and explained that not only do we still have the 'bursting pockets' problem on the left lung, we now also have bleeding on the right lung. The blood will need to be reabsorbed by the cells and it could take a long time, inhibiting the proper functioning of the lungs. Friends drove me to and from hospital throughout the day. Wessel also checked in during lunchtime. 

Focussing on the x-rays of the lungs, this is how the rest of the week progressed:

Wednesday, day 10 – More or less the same as the previous day.

Thursday, day 11 – More or less the same as the day before. Lots of phlegm coming off the right lung during physio sessions (yes, they do intensive physio on that tiny little chest).

Friday, day 12 – No much improvement, although a little less phlegm on the bottom of the right lung. 

Saturday, day 13 – No improvement.

Psalm 9:9 'The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.'

Sunday, day 14 – Two weeks old! Happy birthday Tabitha! Doctor is very worried that Tabitha has not had any improvement in her lungs since Monday. Said she is still very very sick and that things can go either way. People called groups together to pray seriously for her. Thanks again to everyone praying! 

Monday, day 15 – The night nurse sent an sms early in the morning – The x-ray shows a DRASTIC improvement of her lungs! The left lung is not swollen anymore and the burst pockets are gone. The right lung that used to look white and collapsed on the x-ray is back to its normal size and clear again!  The doctors were amazed and excited. The one doctor, who were so worried the previous day, said that it must be the power of prayer. The other doctor just kept saying she really didn't expect it to clear up so quickly. She kept smiling, and so did I! We give all glory to Jesus for this amazing, unexplainable intervention.

BEFORE (day 14) - Left lung swollen with broken air pockets, right lung white from phlegm.

AFTER (day 15) - Lungs are almost clear and similar in size