Thursday night, Tommy is being admitted to the hospital for IV hydration. Then, first case on Friday morning, he's having tracheal reconstructive surgery!!!
He will NOT be getting his trach out yet, but this is our first step.
The surgery is about 4 hours long, followed by 7 days in the ICU. 2 weeks after the surgery, he goes back to have the stents that will be inserted Friday removed. He will have 2-3 weeks more recovery, then a bronchoscopy will be done (camera to look at the airway). IF all looks good with that, then he will be admitted for 48 hours of capping of his trach. IF he tolerates breathing with the cap over his trach in the hospital then he will be released with orders to be capped at home while he is awake for 30 days. Then, God-willing, the trach has the potential to go bye-bye. BUT....
Around that time, we will do another heart cath to see where we are with his heart and lungs. More than likely at that time we will need to do some sort of intervention. I hesitate to put him back on a ventilator for the surgery through his brand new airway, so I asked his ENT to possibly wait to pull the trach until after he has heart surgery, so we can vent through the trach instead. It all depends on what happens at the time and place. I get a big say-so in his care and his doctors are very respectful of my concerns. But they are the experts and will have many meetings on the subject before a final decision is made.
No matter what happens or the order it happens, Tommy WILL be able to vocalize after next week and the trach WILL be out in the next 3-5 months!!!!!!!!
Holding my breath....It's time!
Mom of one kangaroo!
Quote:
Linear Mode
