Hope for Baby Bennett: Still fighting

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Still fighting

Bodie is still hanging in there, but honestly is having a really rough day. He coded again once he got back to his room and they've been having a hard time stabilizing him. His pressures have been all over the place and his sats have been low. They had to put him on a paralytic and that seems to have helped a bit. He has been relatively stable for the last couple of hours, so let's hope he stays that way.

Everyone seems to think this is just a great big attack of pulmonary hypertension. What is puzzling to me is how quickly it came on. He's always struggled with hypertension but never to the point of it literally being life-threatening. Something must have triggered it, but what exactly is the big question. They think it's most likely what they call "microscopic aspirations", which is where someone aspirates their feedings just enough into the lungs to trigger hypertension but not enough to show up on a chest x-ray. That may be the case (I've asked them to see if there's a test they can run to determine this rather than saying he has to have a feeding tube solely based on speculation), but I can't help but think about the fact that he got his vaccinations this week and wonder whether that may have triggered this whole thing...

Anyway, he's still fighting what appears to be an uphill battle at the moment. Please please pray they can figure this out and his little body will keep fighting hard...

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

2 comments:

AnonymousApril 20, 2010 at 7:53 PM
Thinking about you lots and praying extra hard for Bodie and all of you. We're here if you need anything. I definitely Know these uncertain times can be so hard emotionally, physically, and spiritually - but we will pray they are short lived and behind you all soon. Love - Sara and the Hale Family
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AnonymousApril 20, 2010 at 8:54 PM
My dear Amy, our family is praying for Bodie and all of you constantly! We will not give up. I pray that God is holding him in the palm of His hand and that He will provide healing for Bodie. Hang in there. We are here for you! I mean it! Much Love and God Bless You all. Nairi and Michael Jeppson
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The Chosen Mothers by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?

Somehow, I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting His instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son, patron saint Matthew. Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia. Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Gerard."

Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says, "Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy." "Exactly" smiles God, "Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel."

"But, does she have patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she will handle it." "I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I'm going to give her has it's own world. She has to make it live in her world and that's not going to be easy."

"But, Lord, I don't think she believes in you." No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps -"Selfishness? is that a virtue?"

God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice...and allow her to rise above them." She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side." "And what about her patron Saint?" asks the angel. His pen poised in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."