Swallow Study

Nothing but good news today!  You have no idea what a big deal it is to be able to say that!  No problems with Caiden's swallowing mechanism!   God is good!  So prayers that he will learn to like and eat food!

~Terry

Caiden's Hope's Youngest Supporter

Caiden's Hope Summer Raffle

Caiden's Hope is having a Summer Raffle for a $100.00 Gasoline Prepaid Gift Card.  Purchase a raffle ticket at any Caiden's Hope Event.

Only $4.00 per raffle ticket could win you $100.00 of gas!

local Check-Up

Caiden went to his local pediatrician Monday to check his weight, and O2 levels.  His weight was the same as last time, and his O2 level was at 91%.  Still not quite what they'd like it to be.  And believe it or not when your O2 levels are low it uses up more calories to eat!  So in order to keep his weight up he will be on oxygen more during the day rather than just sleeping at night.  The Dr. said once again, that he continues to be amazed at how happy he is, and how well he does even with all of his issues.  We so appreciate his positive attitude.  

Caiden is getting stronger, and has gotten so much better at sitting up in his Bumbo chair, or his activity jump seat.  He loves sitting & watching his signing DVDs and Baby Einstein DVDs.

Caiden's swallow study has been re-scheduled once again, for June 30th at St. John's in Oxnard. 

~Terry

San Antonio Texas Supporters form new Caiden's Hope Chapter

Two Caiden's Hope supporters, Leslie Mattingly and Grace Dodson, recently formed a new chapter of Caiden's Hope in San Antonio, Texas to support families with babies in crisis. 

Grace has supported Caiden's Hope from the very beginning and had been looking for a way to increase her support.  After speaking with her co-worker Leslie Mattingly, the pair decided they needed to form a San Antonio chapter and asked Caiden's Hope for permission.  The Board of Directors of Caiden's Hope quickly approved their request and welcomes their support, energy and enthusiasm.  We look forward to many more local chapters as we continue to grow.

Do you want to form a chapter in your area, please contact Wayne Keller at wayne@caidenshope.org for more information.

No Swallow Study

Caiden went for his swallow study today and after being shuffeled from dept. to dept. and waiting 45 min. they were told that he wasn't scheduled today!  So, still no swallow study. 

~ Terry

Mark McEwen partners with Caiden's Hope

Mark McEwen

Journalist, author and former CBS News Anchor, Mark McEwen today announced his support of Caiden's Hope. 

Mark was voted one of the most trusted people in America and was a fixture on CBS in the mornings from 1987 until 2002.  His wit and warmth made him a welcome guest in millions of homes.  During his 16-year tenure at CBS, Mark served in a variety of high-profile positions, including anchor for "CBS This Morning", weather and entertainment reporter for "The Early Show" and correspondent for "48 Hours". 

He is a stroke survivor and works with Caiden's Hope, the American Stroke Association and The National Stroke Association to educate people on how to make healthy lifestyle changes.  His book, Change in the Weather, is about his experience as a stroke survivor.

Caiden's Hope welcomes Mark and appreciates his support.

Home At Last

We're home!  It wasn't looking like we were going to be earlier today.  The resident on duty decided that Caiden would stay one more night when they made their rounds this morning because they still had him on oxygen.  Jennifer told them that he has oxygen at home so if that was the only reason they were keeping him, then we could take care of that at home.  They decided he could go home, but needed oxygen for the trip home.  So we had to wait several more hours for them to get an oxygen tank so that we could take him home.  He was released just in time for rush hour traffic.  He was excited to get in his own car seat to go home.  He slept most of the day, and slept most of the way home.  But he's home!  He is sporting a trach, a 1/2 size bigger than the one he got when he was only 4 lbs.!  It is safer for him now.  He doesn't go back for a E.N.T. check up until July 25th.

~Terry

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

Charity Never Tasted So Good

Join Caiden's Hope on June 14, 2011 at RedBrick Pizza at 4990 Telephone Road, Ventura, California for another Family Oriented Caiden's Hope Event.

Enjoy RedBrick Pizza's fabulous Fire-Roasted Pizza, Fresh Chopped Salads, Fhazani Sandwiches and Gourmet Gelato. 

Be sure to print a flyer at www.caidenshope.org and bring it with you to show your support for Caiden's Hope!