Surgery to Stretch Caiden's Airways

Yay!  Caiden made it through surgery just fine.  All went well and he is recovering nicely.  He was very sleepy this morning and afternoon, but is quite awake this evening.  He's been playing, and happy.  He has a nurse who is an intern and because she is, she is very careful and watches over him every minute.  If he even coughs she knows it.  So though she is an intern we feel comfortable with her care.  He ate well this evening.  The hospital volunteers brought him a light up stacker toy that he gets to play with and take home.  He gets to come home tomorrow!  Caiden is 16 months old today.  He weighs 18 lbs, 10.2 oz.  He has gained back all of the weight that he lost plus some.  He is 2' 5 1/4" tall.  : )

~Terry

Bye-Bye

I stopped to visit Caiden today on my way home from work, and when I was leaving I kissed him and told him good-bye and waved and he waved bye-bye right back!  It was the 1st time he's done that to me with no coaxing, he just waved!  I wish I had it on video.

~Terry

Cranio Facial Round Robin Dr. Appointment

Yesterday was the big UCLA appointment with all of the specialists.  The specialists come in one after another to examine, and then give a report, and then they all meet together and come up with a game plan.  

Caiden weighed 18 lbs. 4.5 oz and is 2 ft. 3/4 " tall.  He gained back most of what he lost a few weeks ago.  His weight is the focus of concern.  I'll come back to that.

He saw a dentist, an orthodontist (Really??? he has 4 teeth!) A pediatrician, speech therapist, plastics, and an audiologist.  Plastics was happy with the way his skull has healed after his skull surgery, and checked inside his mouth and says his palate is intact, as we expected.  The dentist checked his arch inside his mouth and said that looks good. 

Caiden's lack of eating is the biggest concern and it all hinges on what the swallow study reveals.  We questioned the 90 x-rays in an hour that the gastric emptying study did.  We have not yet gotten the results for that.  Though the swallow study will require more x-rays, they deem it necessary to find out how his internal swallowing is working.  The Dr. said if he has an internal anatomy problem then his not eating is his natural, subconscious way of protecting himself for further problems by eating.  So now we wait for the swallow study next month. 

The doctor cleared him for surgery for this Tuesday to stretch his airways in preparation of taking his trach out sometime in the future.  That is why the swallow study has been pushed back to next month.

There are some nursing issues that need to be addresses and worked out as he is too fragile to be exposed to habits of the nurses.   

*  Please pray for a successful stretching of the airways on Tuesday, and his protection during and after the surgery.  In recovery he is taken care of by nurses that don't always know how to take care of a trach patient.  Also that he gets enough oxygen during the surgery this time so as not to collapse his lungs again. 

*  Pray also for his nursing staff to be the best that they      can be, and safe for him

*  Pray for his safety during his swallow study.

*  Pray for wisdom for his Dr.s and his family with decisions afterwords.

~Terry

Ed Call Accepts Board Member Position with Caiden's Hope

Caiden's grandfather, Ed Call recently accepted the position of Secretary on the Board of Directors for Caiden's Hope.  Ed brings a many years of business expertise to Caiden's Hope and his experiences will greatly benefit the foundation.  His story, featured in the video above, was one of the leading reasons that Caiden's Hope was founded.

Wayne

Train Robbery for Caiden's Hope

We had a great day riding the rails in support of Caiden's Hope.  The Cedar Park Gang robbed the Hill Country Flyer train and almost got away with $750.00.  Sheriff Tex of the Burnet Gunfighters stepped in on behalf of Caiden's Hope and stopped the outlaws dead in their tracks, recovering the loot.  Thanks to everyone that participated.  We'll see ya'll next year!

Gastric Emptying Test

90 x-rays in 1 hour

Tests

Caiden is having a gastric emptying study today, and a swallow study on Wed. Pray for those administering, and reading the tests, and pray for Caiden as he goes through them.

~Terry

Caiden's Hope 5K Walk

Thank you to all the participants of todays Caiden's Hope 5K Walk.  We raised $414.00 thanks to you.

With your generous donations, we will be able to help even more families in crisis!

Green Frosting

All Caiden's Hope Videos are now on You Tube

Caiden's Hope now has it's own YouTube "Caiden's Hope Channel".

Please visit www.youtube.com/thecaidenshope to see the two newest videos featuring Caiden's father Chris and Eileen Laber, Vice President of Aqua-Flo Supply.

Wheezeometer test

Caiden has started his Wheezeometer test.  He started it about 2:45 p.m. today and will complete it in about 24 hours.  It will take about 5 days to get the results back.


~Terry