Well, things have been pretty even keeled around here as far as Gracie's trach goes: no infections, the stoma (hole in her neck) looks good, Gracie is so good about lying still for "trach care" (cleaning), capping is going pretty well (although we have to keep her distracted while she wears it or she fiddles with it or pulls it off)..... but overall, pretty status quo. Until Wednesday night! Gracie was finishing her bottle as she relaxed in her lamb swing. We have a video monitor so we close the door, put on some soft music, and let her chill out before falling asleep. Well, she never, EVER pulls on her trach or intentionally pulls it out, but somehow that's exactly what she did! It got stuck- kind of wedged as her trach tie was holding it around her neck, so I ran in and had to cut it off. She was crying so I sat her up and talked to her calmly so she wouldn't choke or vomit. It's hard to breathe when there is a hole in your neck and you're crying , after all! But she was breathing on her own, which is so awesome. However, when I went to put the new size 3.5 Neo trach in, it wouldn't fit! This has been coming for a while as the stoma continues to heal, but I have never had to go to that next step of downsizing her trach. So I got the smaller trach in and she was fine, albeit a little irritated around the trach site. But holy cow- I had an adrenaline rush! Phew! It reminded me that that was the state we lived in for the better part of Gracie's first year of life. We always had to be "on" in case there was an emergency situation, and you always have to have the next three steps planned out in your head. All I can say is, that training kicks right back in! I called our ENT but he isn't concerned about using the smaller trach as her scope is so soon anyway. Maybe Gracie is trying to tell us that she is ready to get it out? After all, she is the one who pulled out her feeding tube for the final time! I am crossing my fingers for her!!
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AuthorLauren, a Yoga Teacher, Choreographer, Director.....and new Mom!! I hope to add "tube slayer" to my list of credits. Archives
March 2014
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