Bennett Admitted to the Hospital
posted on 09/27/2008
Bennett was admitted into Fairfax INOVA Hospital earlier tonight, so we again ask for your prayers for his health. There are two main concerns presently: potential pneumonia and feeding/hydration problems.
Bennett developed a normal cold earlier this week, but because of his chronic lung disease diagnosis a common cold can quickly become pneumonia for him. We spent Thursday night in the ER as his temperature spiked and he was refusing to drink or eat. They gave him an IV, took chest x-rays which looked good, and finally sent us home. On Friday he continued to refuse to drink or eat, and because of the congestion in his lungs and fear of this becoming pneumonia our pediatrician wanted to admit him. We were told this admission could last 1-2 weeks.
Step one is clearing his lungs. He is on an IV which now makes it extremely easy to give him his meds, and he is also back on the infamous "ng tube" which goes in his nose and down to his tummy. This makes it much easier to feed him liquids which he is having great difficulty swallowing right now. They will also be putting Bennett back on anibiotics as they do not want any small infection amounts in his lungs to grow into larger issues. We were told step one will probably last 2-4 days.
Step two will be surgically placing a g-tube into his stomach, but his lungs must be completely healed before any surgery will be attempted. The decision to actually place the g-tube has not officially been made yet, but we think this could happen by the end of next week. Bennett will undergo several tests before this even happens, such as swallow studies. Bennett's feedings were going very well until about the first of September. Ever since then it has been very difficult to get him to eat or drink, which in turn makes it extremely difficult to give him his meds for his reflux and seizures. All of a sudden swallowing has become very difficult for him and he usually coughs his liquids and gerber food back up during his feedings.
At this point one of the doctors thinks his feeding issues, though exacerbated by the cold and chest congestion, may be more neurologically based. However, there is no consensus on this just yet, so we'll update you on this as we know more.
As always, thank you for your prayers.
Travis, Kelly, and Bennett
