CPAP of 4!
Maybe her last days on CPAP?
Amelia is about to whip CPAP! Dr. Khan is back and decided that he would move her down to CPAP of 4. If she stays under 45% oxygen for the next couple of days he will try her on nasal cannula on Friday. He told me flatly (the way he tells me most things) he expects her to fail...but that he must try. Most kids on nasal cannula get 1 LPM of flow (if you look at the picture of Amelia's monitor, she is getting 7 LPM of flow) and this is a huge leap for her.
He says he will put her on nasal cannula with a setting of 2 LPM...he still thinks this will be too difficult for her...but, there is a high flow nasal cannula (1 machine for the entire NICU) and he will designate it for her use if she needs it. It can go up as high as 6 LPM, but he will only go up to 4 on it. If she still can't cut the mustard, she will go back on CPAP until she is ready.
We got the results of the MRI back. There is no additional damage that they can see to her brain that they did not see on the ultrasound. She had a brain bleed in her cerabellum (when she was a few days old) which is the area of the brain that affects fine motor skills and balance. It was a small bleed that resolved itself. We still don't know how this will affect her developmentally, but with plenty of physical and occupational therapy, she should be able learn how to do everything.
Babies brains are constantly creating pathways and when one is damaged it can create a new one to get around the damaged one. I asked Dr. Khan if the results of the MRI was the best outcome that he could have hoped for and he said yes. He also said she may never become a ballerina, but I told him that there were other much more worthwhile pursuits.
Last night Amelia weighed in at 9 lbs. 4 oz. And that's all the news that's fit to print.
11 comments:
Hey - watch those ballerina comments there! ;)
We are so happy that Amelia is making progress, and that she has a doctor who is willing to challenge her. That's the only way any of us moves forward. God bless! Marie Grip
There's nothing wrong with being a ballerina!Regardless of her prematurity, with my family genes, it just wasn't going to happen!
while it's on 7 LPM, only 38% of that 7 is pure oxygen...right? So maybe she'll be able to stand the lower LPM's anyway, since they will be 100% oxygen, just lower LPM... I dont know, just another way to think about it!
On top of that, I think the MRI results are remarkable. I wish your doctor would have been more animated (and not so flat) with you, because to be born at her age and go through what she has, and to come out with only a small resolved bleed in just one area is really amazing. You have a miracle baby...
Prayers all round!
Kathy
WOO HOO!!! Come on girl, you can do it.
Keeping my fingers crossed for beating CPAP.
I JUST KNEW it was going to be positive news all the time! She is too spunky, eventhough it's taken so long to get this far. God hears ALL our prayers. Maybe He decided she will go in to science, so that I can say, "My granddaughter is a doctor"! Yea! I can see the smiles and relief on your faces right now! Love, GMom
Dear GMom,
So a Dr is what we are thinking she will be, egh? Well as the rhyme goes, (Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief,) I suppose that's the only thing left. Plenty of Indian Chiefs (those that are in authority and tell others what to do), and the lawyer is gone as well. She might want to step away from the rhyme and become a school teacher like GMom and Aunt Tooty, or a Scientist AND Engineer like PapaBear, or a Nurse (in training) like Aunt Bocky.
I know we will stand together to support her in whatever she decides to be. She has already changed the world and those in it, touching more lives that we will EVER know. From the staff that cares for her daily, her medical teams, family, extended family, friends, blog watchers, prayer groups, and countless strangers who have been supportive with, and interested in Amelia's progress. All have had a hand in changing or being changed by this experience with our little one, and Amelia will continue to influence such changes in those around her.
So dream a little dream along with GMom and Grammy for our little Amelia's future. We will dream much and often. Love, Grammy
Wow it's all good! This is all great news and I just know she's on her way. This little one has been through so much and she is so blessed to have such a close and loving family around her. And you grandmas are so right, she has touched so many hearts and lives, mine included. Always pulling for you, little one! Love to the whole family ((((((((())))) Kay
Well, my little ballerina and I are thrilled to hear the good news about her MRI, and Zelda thinks she could teach her ballet anyway! How dare that Dr. already imply limits! Amelia has already proven she is remarkable! She can be a dancing doctor with awesome bedside manner :)Love, Bridget
Right on, Sister B--the only limitations Amelia will have are those she imposes on herself. This Dr. obviously doesn't know much about the strength of the Banker/Cannon clan. We're a resilient lot, we are. I'm presuming he has standard lines and phraseology he has learned in order to distance himself from all the realities and possibilities that these micro preemies bring--good and not so good. Must be his coping mechanism--so let's not sit down on him so hard. We will try to understand where he is coming from, yet continue to press forward with the help of God.
Love Amelia's Grammy
OK....let's go for a lawyer! With the debates she hears going in the NICU from EVERYONE,(I will name no names) she has had good exposure from it all! She's even argued, in her way, with parents and staff! Can't wait to hear about the next step. Love, GMom
Well we think for the immediate future, Amelia is just dreaming of what she wants to be for Halloween this year when she gets to go Trick or Treat with Mommy and Daddy! We just think she is one powerful miracle baby with a bright future ahead! Always in our prayers!
Vickie Cross
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