HCA Gulf Coast Regional Hospital Network Joins With Caiden's Hope

Thanks to your generous support, Caiden's Hope is pleased to announce that several hospitals belonging to the HCA Gulf Coast Regional Hospital Network have joined with Caiden's Hope to help families in crisis.  Among the hospitals partnering with Caiden's Hope are Clear Lake Regional in Houston, Bayshore Medical Center in Pasadena, Texas as well as HCA hospitals in Harlingen, Angleton, Kingwood and Corpus Christi, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee.

Caiden's Hope is proud to work with these hospital to provide a small amount of peace and comfort to families with a baby in the NICU for an extended period of time.
  

ENT Appointment

Caiden had a follow up  ENT appointment yesterday from the last O.R. visit he had for stretching his airways.  The doctor said that she had to take scar tissue out of the nasal cavity on both sides, not just one like she had thought.  She also stretched his airways just above his trach.  He is making more air noises around his trach as the airways are getting bigger, which is progress.  The tube in his left ear is working it's way out which is normal.  The right one isn't budging yet.  They come out on their own time when they are ready.  Since it is working its way out it is likely uncomfortable for him to have that hearing aide in.  That could be why he takes it out, though at times he isn't fond of either one of them.  He is typical.  The doctor says later kids throw them out of the bus window.  So for now just finding them in the floor, or in his crib is just fine.  He's already lost one when he was out on a walk in the stroller.  

Caiden has another O.R. appointment Dec. 6th for more airways stretching.  We are hoping he is getting to the end of this phase, and will be able to have his trach out soon.  The doctor tried to cover his trach yesterday to see how he would do, but he was already too mad after she scoped down his trach and looked in his ears. 

I'm the lucky grandma who enjoyed spending the day with him. 

~Terry

Pharr, Texas Family Stays Near Hospital While Daughter Has NeuroSurgery

A mom from Pharr, Texas is the latest beneficiary of Caiden's Hope.  She is staying overnight in a clean, safe hotel in the Texas Medical Center so she can be near her infant daughter who is undergoing neurosurgery at Texas Children's Hospital.  Thanks to our friends and supporters, Caiden's Hope is able to provide her with a room for three nights starting October 18, 2011.

Bakersfield, California Family Stays Near Hospital While Son Recieves Treatment

A Bakersfield California family is staying at a Los Angeles hotel for this week thanks to Caiden's Hope.  The Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA requested Caiden's Hope's  assistance so the family would not have to drive home to Bakersfield from Los Angeles each night. Because of your generous support to Caiden's Hope, this family is finding some peace during this very stressfull time.    

Caiden's Hope to Speak to Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio

Caiden's Hope has been invited to speak to the Methodist Children's Hospital of South Texas Case Management Group in San Antonio in November.

The Methodist Children's Hospital of South Texas is a leader in working closely with NICU families to help babies in crisis.

Caiden's Hope invited to speak to HCA Healthcare Gulf Coast Division

Caiden's Hope has been invited to speak to the Gulf Coast Division Case Management Group of HCA Healthcare in October.

Representing 12 regional hospitals, the Gulf Coast Division Case Management Group works closely with NICU families and has invited Caiden's Hope to speak at their quarterly meeting.

South Texas Family Stays In Houston Near the Hospital

A South Texas family is spending the next three days in a hotel a few short miles from the hospital tonight while their newborn daughter is being treated in the NICU.  Thanks to your support Mom and Dad don't have to drive to their home and back to the hospital in the morning.

Support Your Cause

Caiden's Hope has partnered with Support Your Cause to help raise funds for Caiden's Hope and to provide you with discounts while shopping online. 

Just click on the Support Your Cause link, input your email address, create a password and start shopping.  It's that simple to continue your support for Caiden's Hope.

Caiden's Hope will receive a $5.00 donation just for your signing up! 

Sitting Up Unsupported

Because you'd want to know...Caiden sat by himself today!  He thought it was funny when he would fall over. 

~Terry

Your donations have helped another family in crisis!

Thanks to your support, a family in San Antonio is staying together in a hotel tonight near the hospital while their baby girl receives treatment in the NICU. Thank you for helping Caiden's Hope attain our goals of helping families in crisis. Please consider a donation so we can continue our Mission.

www.caidenshope.org

Post Airway Dilating

Caiden had his airways dilated again today in preparation to take out his trach.  He did well.  He had scar tissue that they removed, and guess what??? He weighs 22 lbs!  He's never weighed 20 lbs!  He started eating SO well last week.  He's a trooper.  Hopefully he'll be released soon tomorrow as he only has 1 bottle of Banana Pediasure left and he ONLY drinks Banana Pediasure.  The picture above shows Jennifer and Caiden watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on TV.

~Terry

Caiden's Hope Summer Gas Card Raffle Winner

Congratulations to Scott Stolkin of Ventura, California.  Scott won the Caiden's Hope Summer Gas Card Raffle and drives away with $100.00 in Shell gasoline!  The Fall Gas Card Raffle will be starting soon.  Be sure to purchase your raffle ticket at the next Caiden's Hope event!     

Another Airways Procedure in the O.R.

Caiden is 19 months old now and Tuesday (tomorrow) he will go back to the O.R. to have his airways stretched again in preparation to take his trach out.  One of his nostrils stayed open after the last airway stretching.  The other did not.  The Dr. won't know how well his throat airways stayed open until she gets in there again.  He will spend the night Tuesday night and then be released if all goes well on Wed.  Chris and Patti will take him down tonight and then Jennifer and I will stay down near UCLA at the Tiverton Tuesday, and until he is released.

Caiden had been eating SO poorly, but last week he decided to eat again and ate very well all week.  Thank-you for your prayers regarding his eating.  Pray that he will learn to eat solid foods.  He has recently learned to clap, and wave bye-bye.  God has been good to us.

~Terry

Caiden loves Abby, Abby loves Caiden

Caiden is visiting with grandma and grandpa for a few days.  We had just come back from going on a walk and the dogs came out to play.  Caiden likes Abby, Abby likes Caiden.  : )  

~Terry

More Fluids

Caiden had his appointment with his GI doctor.  He just wants to add more fluids to his day.  He wants Caiden to drink 4 oz. of water a day and Caiden does NOT drink water!  So 1 oz. of water goes into each of his Pedia Sure bottles.  He raised the amount of oz. of his prune juice, and 2 more oz. of Pedia Sure per day.  This means his mom has to do a 1:00-1:30 a.m. feeding each night even though Caiden sleeps well through the night, to make sure he gets in all of his calories/fluids.  He doesn't get them all in 100%, but he does get more in.  

Yesterday he saw his regular Dr. and got 3 inoculations.  

: (   Though his weight is always a fight to keep up, he is still in the low/normal range.  : )

Caiden has lost one of his hearing aides.  He went out for a walk and came back without it.  You haven't seen it have you?

This is a picture of Caiden and his roommate Emma watching a signing DVD.

~Terry

A Good Doctor Report

Caiden got a good Dr. report yesterday from his pulmonary Dr. All the tests he had a month ago came back normal including the sleep test for his breathing.  The Dr. is recommending the Synagis shots again for high risk babies  this cold and flu season to prevent him from getting RSV.  He is referring him to a GI Dr. for a further look.  He specializes in the digestive system.  Caiden's O2 level was 95% which is very good for him.  He weighs 19.6 lbs.  Almost 20 lbs.!

~Terry

Ears, Nose Throat check-up at UCLA

At Caiden's ears, nose, throat appointment today the Dr. put a scope with a camera down each of his nose holes.  It was very unpleasant for him and he let her know.  She said that one side has stayed open nicely, but the other side needs to be opened again.  He will go back to the O.R. Sept. 6th to have his airways stretched again.  The Dr. had warned us that it could take 2 or 3 times.  He will have an over night stay again.  We will take his portable oxygen with us this time so they can release him after staying 1 night.  

Here is a picture of him with fresh tomatoes, and plums from the garden.  No, he's not eating any better so please pray for that.  We offer him everything, but he doesn't eat any of it.

~Terry

Caiden's Hope needs your vote!

Help Caiden's Hope win the Citgo Fueling Good contest. 24 charities will win a share of $120,000 in gasoline. Caiden's Hope needs your vote to help us win and be able to provide families in crisis with free gas. You can vote daily until August 11. Vote everyday!

New Caiden's Hope Iphone Mobile Link for Caiden's Hope

Haven't been able to visit Caiden's Hope on your IPhone? 

Now there is a new Mobile Link for IPhone users.

When you search Caiden's Hope in your IPhone's web browser, you will now be automatically redirected to the new Caiden's Hope Mobile Site.  CH supporters now have mobile access to Events, a Picture Gallery, Facebook and many other features of the full site.

To visit the full site, go to http://www.caidenshope.org/ on your laptop or desktop computer.

Caiden's Hope helps U.S. Military Fisher House at Ft. Hood, Texas

Caiden's Hope was recently able to make a $2000 donation to Fisher House located on the U.S. military base at Ft. Hood, Texas thanks to our supporters.

Fisher House Manager Isaac Howard said that "it is times like this in which soldiers need all the help they can get.  Your contribution to the Fort Hood Fisher House helps provide the necessary items need to povide a home away from home for the soldiers and their loved ones during a family medical crisis.
We do not know how we could manage to make the Fisher House as it is without the contributions made by the kind and caring supporters of Caiden's Hope". 

Within walking distance of the hospital Fisher House is a comfortable temporary home, filled with warm, caring people who help family members endure the stresses associated with a loved one's serious medical condition. The Fisher House enables families to stay together, cook meals, do laundry, and relax in a "home away from home" atmosphere. There are no other facilities on military installations which provide this caring, compassionate environment.