First of all, thank you to everyone who has been praying, texting, and calling to show your support! It is very comforting to know that so many of you are thinking about us! If we haven't called or texted back, its not because we aren't thankful.
Owen's lung X-rays started looking better today! The new ECHO we got on the PDA shows that it has closed from about 4mm to 1mm. These things are great news!
The pneumonia infection is currently being treated by two antibiotics. Today there were signs of one of the antibiotics interfering with kidney function. After the doctors look into this more, the one antibiotic may be discontinued.
He responded very well to the short term paralytic but will not be using it anymore. Since he really needs to grow for a while, a long term paralytic will be used, which will allow the ventilator to work better by keeping him calm. This will probably be for used for weeks and not days. It should help him be able to start feedings with milk sooner!
The standard newborn screen detected abnormal thyroid levels on the first test. The second test, done a week later, showed the abnormal thyroid levels and elevated immunoreactive trypsinogen (irt). The thyroid levels are very common for premature babies and should get better as his original due date gets closer. The first test did not show elevated irt but the second test did. Elevated irt can be a sign of cystic fibrosis. Considering that the first test was not elevated, but the second test was elevated, the doctor says that the fluid they are feeding, the transfusions, the antibiotics, the prematurity, and the overall stress could cause the elevated irt levels. Those things along with the fact that cystic fibrosis does not run in either of our families has made the doctor to not be too concerned with this.
Praying for:
- Lungs to continue to develop
- PDA to completely close
- Lung infections to be cured
- Kidneys to function properly
- lowering of irt levels
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