Caiden Recovery Update

Much to our disappointment it looks like Caiden will be spending another night in the hospital. 

His O2 level isn't quite where they would like it to be, though he wasn't given the breathing treatment that was ordered for him last night & that could be the reason. The breathing treatment was ordered right at shift change, so the nurse that ordered it wasn't the nurse that would have seen that it was given. 

He also hasn't eaten for them the way he ate for me yesterday, but they don't have him on a schedule like he is used to.  They are going to try that. 

Terry  

Caiden Recovery Update

It looks like Caiden will get to go home tomorrow!  They are just watching for fluid build-up around the incision.  If it doesn't build up, he gets to go home.  The 2 IVs are out of his feet.  He has one left in the groin area for "just in case", but they have taken him off of fluid IV because he drank 5 oz. of formula for this grandma twice today.  He has been happy & smiling all day.  I got to hold him for 2 hours while his little "diva" friend as the nurse affectionately calls her, next door to him kept his nurse hopping.  That little girl has been here for 8 months!  They love it when family is here to take care of their babies & it's a labor of love.  Both of his nurses have called to check on him.  They are anxious to have him back.  His nurse here, Jennifer has been wonderful!  God has been SO good!  My heart is filled to overflowing.

Terry   

Caiden Recovery Update

Caiden got his head wrappings off, and his drain out.  They gave him Tylenol when they took his drain out.  No bandages now.  They want it to air out.  He is smiling this morning.  I fed him six ounces.  They are giving him less fluids so that maybe he'll get hungry.  His forehead isn't bruised, but is eye lids still are.  I cleaned up the front of his hair to give him his curls back.

He was given a mobile that he liked so much, his machine alarms went off!

Terry 

Caiden Recovery Update

Caiden continues to do well today.  He doesn't have much of an appetite, but he did drink 2 oz. of formula twice today.  He was awake much of the day, but just acts tired.  He watched the Super Bowl in his room.  The rooms in the PICU are private rooms.  It doesn't look like an ICU at all.  They are much more lenient than the NICU.  You don't have to leave during shift change, and can have several people in the room at the same time.  We try to visit him in shifts, so most of the time someone is there.  His nurse Susan from home came to see him tonight and brought him presents.

He hasn't had anything for pain since last night at 11:00pm.

Jennifer and Chris are driving home tonight.  Chris has to work tomorrow and Jennifer has a test in Anatomy. She will be back later tomorrow.  We have a room again for tomorrow night.



Terry

Leave a Note for Caiden

You can leave a note for Caiden by visiting http://www.caidenshope.org/ and clicking on the Caiden tab.  His family would love to hear from you!

And become a "Follower" of the Caiden's Hope blog.  To become a follower click the "Follow with Google Friend Connect" button on the right side of this blog.  Keep up-to-date with his progress and how Caiden's Hope is helping families in crisis.

Thank you,

Wayne Keller
Executive Director
Caiden's Hope

Caiden Recovery Update

We had a late night visit with Caiden last night.  He was in and out of sleep.  I tried to give him a bottle when he was awake, but he wasnt' interested.  I kept winding up his teddy bear that used to be his daddy's and laid it by his head so that maybe he could hear it.

Caiden is pinker again since his transfusion.  His nurse told us something interesting about how they get their blood donations.  The UCLA staff can earn vacation time by donating blood!  After they earn all the vacation time they can, they can earn points and can use the points for things like a big screen TV!  What do you want to bet that Caiden's blood transfusion came from a UCLA employee!  Very smart.  I think more companies should adopt this program.

Caiden's surgeon came to see him this morning.  Although he is pleased with his progress, he is going to keep him in ICU for another day and leave the drain in his head as it is still draining some.  So Caiden will not be going home tomorrow.  We are kind of in limbo now not knowing if we are staying down here or driving home.  We are supposed to check out tomorrow.

Terry 

Caiden Recovery Update

A much better day today.  Caiden opened his eyes a lot which is so unusual for just having had surgery yesterday.  He looked around and could see all of us.  He shook his head no once or twice and played with his mom's necklace.  Jennifer read him his card that he got from his nurse Susan.  The ophthalmologist examined his eyes and so far is happy with what she saw, but is going to do one more test.  His nose still seems to be itchy, he rubs it a lot.  All in all, a much better day today.

Terry 

Caiden Recovery Update

Caiden seemed to have a very good Dr. last night after shift change.  She actually read his history before she talked to Jennifer and Chris.

Caiden  is still getting morphine and they are going to keep him in ICU again tonight.  His blood count is a little low and continues to go down a little steadily so they are giving him a transfusion now.  It is not uncommon after surgery for him to be a little anemic, and he is.  That is why his blood count is low.  They used the blood that his daddy donated during surgery so they are having to use someone else's today.

They removed his catheter and an IV in his arm this morning.  They unwapped his feet, but he still has the IV's in his feet and groin.  He isn't much more swollen or purple today.  Where he was flaming red yesterday he is white today.  His nose seems to be itchy and that may be from the Morphine, but his eye is also infected which could causing itching, and has spread to the other eye.  An Ophthalmologist will see him today.  They are suppose to give him some Benadryl for itching.

Caiden surprised us and opened his eyes through little slits to look around to see us!  It was a thrill.

Terry

Caiden Recovery Update

We all got to go see Caiden while he was in recovery, one at a time.  He was in some discomfort so they gave him pain medication as needed.  While he was transferred to a room in ICU we went to lunch.  When we came back he was settled in.  They let us all go into his room.  When I walked in I heard him make a noise that I had never heard before.  None of us had, and we realized we were were hearing is voice for the 1st time, but he was in distress.  What should have been a sweet moment turned to terror.  We quickly let his nurse know that he had never made that noise before, and the nurse let the senior resident know.  He was having trouble breathing.  Soon his stomach was sucking in like a person starving and then heaving it out again.  He was REALLY in distress and unbelievably someone in the room said does he usually breath like that?  We assured them, that no, he did not normally breathe like that so they called for help.  I did NOT understand why the senior resident, and nurse could do nothing, and just wait for someone ele to come.  No one was coming fast.  I went out to them and said "do you understand "this is an emergency?" And they said yes, and that they had called a R.T. (respiratory therapist.)  Thankfully we saw her running toward the room.  I thanked her for running as it seemed that everyone else's feet were cemented to the ground. She suctioned him considerably deeper than usual a couple of times and brought up a mucus plug which had been the problem.  He started breathing easier and I thanked her again for running to help.  The doctor said to give him a larger amount of Morphine, and the R.T. said to give him considerably less.  They went with what the R.T. said.  It felt like the dog and pony show.  As long as Caiden has his trach he will never be completely safe with the medical staff.  They just don't know what to do.  It's terrifying!

Caiden has started to swell, and his eye lids are turning purple.  Even his shoulders are swollen and red.  They will be testing his blood all night long.  I showed his nurse a picture of what he usually looks like.  She couldn't believe his beautiful blonde curls.  He looks a bit like a Sumo wrestler right now.  

Please continue to pray for Caiden, as you can see he still needs God's hands on him.

Terry        

Caiden is out of Surgery

Caiden is out of surgery.  The Dr. said everything went well. They also fixed his ear that needed to be tacked up.  He is awake, but groggy.  We haven't been able to go see him yet.  I think only his mom and dad can go see him today.  They can go up after they get him settled in.  He will spend the day and night in intensive care, he has a drain, and 2 IV's still.  The drain will come out in the next 1 or 2 days.  He will stay at least 3 nights.  They will evaluate as the days go on.  Thank-you for your continued prayers.

Terry 

Surgery Update

a nurse just came to update us & said the dr said it is going spectacularly well. 

Terry

Caiden at UCLA Medical Center Los Angeles

We got up before 4:00am this morning to drive to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles for Caiden's surgery on his skull to make room for his growing brain. 

He woke up with an eye infection, so the doctors decided they will take a closer look at his eye while he is in the operating room and call a specialist if needed.  His eyes will be swollen shut after the surgery.

 The operating room staff will remove his trach and insert a tube to put him to sleep.  He will have several IV's in case of an emergency, all which will be inserted after he is asleep.  The doctors explained that the tube method was much safer.

Surgery will be close to 5 hours.

Now we wait.

Terry

Happy 1st Birthday Caiden!

Happy 1st Birthday Caiden!

The doctors said you wouldn't live to be two months old.  They were so wrong.  Our God is bigger than that.  This has been a year of miracles, and blessings.  We love you SO much, our hearts are overflowing.

Thank you God!

Terry 

Becoming a Caiden's Hope Blog Follower

To be listed on the Caiden's Hope blog as a "follower" you must choose the Public View when you subscribe.  If you choose Private View, you are still following, but no one else will know you are a supporter of Caiden's Hope.  Tell the world you support Caiden's Hope!

Caiden's 1st Birthday

We celebrated Caiden's 1st birthday today. He will be one on Monday.  Lots of friends and family came to celebrate.  There were monkey cupcakes and "C" for Caiden cookies along with a lot of other food.  And lots of presents.  His favorite present was a Cookie Monster card.


Terry

There's Bushwacker's in them thar hills!

We hear there is a robbery of the Hill Country Flyer train out of Austin, Texas planned for late spring or early summer.  Luckily the "Bad Guys" are really the "Good Guys" and all the loot will be donated to Caiden's Hope.


As soon as we know more, we'll post the details.  (hope the Sheriff doesn't read this!)  

He's Smiling and there are teeth in there!

Caiden's first and second tooth came in over the weekend!

Terry

Snapper Jack's Taco Shack hosts Fundraiser April 5, 2011

Snapper Jack's Taco Shack, located at 5100 Telegraph Road, Ventura, California will host a Caiden's Hope Fundraiser April 5, 2011.

Download a flyer at http://www.caidenshope.org/ and bring it with you.

He melts my Heart!

Caiden went for a check up at the Dr. to be cleared for surgery on February 4th.  He weighed 17 lbs., 3 oz, and is 2'5" tall.  He reached his little arms out to me an melted my heart.  I love him so much!  The Dr. cleared him for surgery.


Terry

Caiden Rolled Over!

From time to time, Caiden's Grandmother Terry will post updates on Caiden, his progress and how Caiden's Hope is helping other families.  We look forward to your comments.  Her first post is:

Caiden was laying on the floor and rolled ALL THE WAY OVER!  He tucked his little arm and over he went! Then he raised up on his arms and had his head up.  When he was done having his own tummy time he rolled himself back over!  This is a really big milestone for him!

Terry