Digging out of the snow (Jan. 27)
DC had it’s first real snowstorm of the year yesterday, a nasty mix of rain turning to heavy snow that left tens of thousands of people without power in the greater metropolitan area. Power outages always make us a little nervous since Lucas depends on electricity for his ventilator, pulse-ox monitor, and suction machine. Burke came home early from work to avoid the craziness on the streets of DC and we made sure that all our equipment was charged up with back-up batteries ready to go. In the end, we maintained power and we look to be in the clear for now. We’re hoping the snow melts enough so that we can make a trip to West Virginia this weekend to hang out in a cabin in the woods… Lucas’s first winter getaway!
Lucas has been in good spirits lately having recovered from the minor cold that he got last week. However, we heard back from doctors at Children’s that cultures from Lucas’s trach grew two bacteria, Moraxella and Pseudomona. The former is being treated by the antibiotic that we started over the weekend; the latter seems to be a common bacteria amongst kids with trachs, but the usual treatment involves a 6-month, twice-a-day drug delivered via a special nebulizer. This does not sound very fun. We realize that we’re going to have to be a little more conscious of cleaning all of Lucas’s equipment (we’ve gotten lazy) in order to prevent these sorts of bacteria from coming on in the future. However, after consulting with our favorite source on all things related to tracheotomies (the parent forum at tracheotomy.com), we found out that Pseudomonas can be a really nasty infection, sometimes bringing fevers and even hospitalization. So we’re again grateful for Lucas’s work-horse of an immune system.
Comments (4)
Amy Andrews
January 28th, 2011 at 9:48 pm
Even if you were without electricity (as we were) i think Lucas’s smile could power your whole street. LOVE IT!
We are well-acquainted with Pseudomonis.It is very common in kids with trachs. Brianna has grown it several times. Since she gets nebs twice every day, it seemed like and easy thing for us to add when she needed it. I don’t know if you have started the nebs but we used TOBI and it is ridiculously expensive. But it works! the neb machine hooks right in line with the trach collar so it usually isn’t too weird or uncomfortable.
This treatment runs in cycles of 28 days on and 28 days off. We are in an off cycle now and are waiting on a culture to come back to see if she needs another cycle. 6 months is usual, but if he gets a culture after the first cycle you may not have to continue for that long.
All the best to you
Alexis
January 28th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
look at that smile!!!
Jocelyn
January 28th, 2011 at 11:55 am
How fun to see Lucas sitting up at his very own little table! Hope you all enjoyed watching the snow. If it melts too fast, we have about three feet on the ground that we’d be happy to send your way;) Enjoy West Virginia!
Mary G
January 27th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Glad you all weathered the storm better than a lot of folks! It snowed heavily in Culpeper, but we didn’t get quite as much as DC did, I think. We got all shoveled and plowed out and had clear roads and walks by this afternoon. We were lucky to be able to avoid traveling the roads yesterday afternoon. But it was close! Whew!
Hope the West Virginia cabin trip works out and goes smoothly. Sounds like much fun. If it doesn’t work, how about a trip to Culpeper? :)
Cheers!
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