As you will read below, the third week of Summer's life was a big one. A lot of the critical issues that occurred her early on have been resolved in an unbelievable fashion. She opened her eyes, and mom and dad get to hold her for the very first time. The true nature of the miracle we were all witnessing began to dawn on us.
Day 15 - February 21, 1998
The second culture is negative, Dad is happy they will begin steroid treatment.
He discovers that 24 hours for the culture is just the first step. They actually
have to wait 72 hours before they begin treatment. They want the culture to continue
to develop to make absolutely sure they is no infection. Dad is a little impatient but
definitely believes that insuring no infection is the best thing. Summer is ready for
feedings. Mom is able to feed Summer through a tube placed in her stomach with 2 CCs of
very clean premie formula. Summer is trying hard to open her eyes, particularly when she
hears mom's voice.
Day 16 - Sunday February 22, 1998
Summer opens her eyes for the nurse on morning shift. This nurse informs mom and dad
that she received Summer's pray chain over the internet before she even knew she would
be taking care of Summer. Later that night mom and dad get a scare. While they are at
Summer's side her hear beat drops to a very low number. The Doc rushes over and
determines its time for another blood transfusion. Summer is running a few CCs low.
By midnight Summer is in perfect shape again. She was low on blood. A necessary
condition because they draw so much blood to do tests. Still no signs of infection and
she is taking regular feeding of milk now. 3 CCs every 3 hours. The Doc runs another
blood culture just to be sure Summer's drop in heart rate was not infection related.
Day 17 - Monday February 23, 1998
All cultures are still showing negative. They will wait one more day on the latest
culture to be sure there is no infection. Mom and Dad are becoming really impatient
for the steroids. The Doc explains that Summer is doing so well they might not even
have to treat her with steroids. They attempt to wean Summer of the Jet ventilator but
Summer does not respond well to the conventional ventilator. An x-ray reveals that she
is collapsing air sacs in her upper right lung similar to what she did in her left lung.
They put her back on the Jet and increase the pressure.
Day 18 - Tuesday February 24, 1998
Her right lung has re-inflated and the second culture comes back negative. The Docs are
ready to begin steroid treatment. Summer will get 6 full doses at 12 hour intervals. Her
first dose is at 3:00 pm. Mom and Dad are extremely nervous about the threat of infection.
Late in the evening the nurses capture a terrific shot of Summer with her eyes open. It is
our favorite shot to date. We should know in a couple of days how well the steroids are
working. The nurses hang up a sign on Summer’s crib reminding everyone to wash their hands
thoroughly and wear gloves when handling Summer. Mom and Dad appreciate the added
save guards to prevent infection. Dad begins counting the hours until the steroid treatment is
over.
Day 19 - Wednesday February 25, 1998
Steroid treatment continues. The necrotic skin beneath her right small toe falls off. The
nurses save the piece of skin for Mom and Dad. It amazing but one of the nurses was so
happy because she was afraid the necrotic skin would take a lot more of Summer’s toe. This
would prevent her from wearing sandals. Her small toe is in great shape. There is even a
nail bed present. Summer will be able to wear sandals with all the beach girls. Summer is
still on the Jet ventilator although on the very lowest settings. The Docs are debating whether
to take her off a respirator completely or wean her down to a convention respirator. The steroids
seem to be working nicely. By Wednesday evening we are half way through the full treatment.
Mom has been spending long hours at the NICU with Summer. While wearing gloves they have
Mom changing Summer’s diaper and holding her feeding tube. Mom continues to pump milk
in preparation for feeding.
Day 19 - Thursday February 26, 1998
Mom spends another long day at the NICU. Late in the afternoon they remove Summer
from the Jet Ventilator and place her on the conventional respirator. What a difference. It is
very quiet by Summer’s bed now. Almost no noise at all. The respirator is at some very low
pressure settings and breathing less than 30 breaths per minute for her. Summer is breathing
about 40 bpm on her own. Slowly they will wean down the respirator. She is due to finish her
full dose steroids treatment tonight at 3:00 am. This will allow Mom and Dad to rest easier
knowing she is on the road to coming off steroids. The nurses remove the feeding tube in her
umbilical vein. There was no evidence of infection. This tube was the one through which
Summer was receiving her fluids and fats. Now they will have to insert an IV at regular intervals
into a vein in Summer’s arms or legs. As her formula feedings increase they will wean down the
IV feedings until an IV is no longer necessary. With the IV in Summer’s arm she looks like a
little bird with a broken wing. Dad bids Dr. Z a good vacation. Mom and Dad are a bit nervous
that Summer’s primary Doc will be taking a vacation in the midst of all the activity but over the
past three weeks have come to know the other three neo-natologists and are extremely pleased
with all of the care Summer is receiving. When Doc Z returns in two weeks Summer will be
ready for college.
Day 20 - Friday February 27, 1998
At 9:26 pm tonight Summer will be exactly three weeks old. To celebrate, and to signify
her move to the new respirator, Summer gets a new house. They are moving Summer from
the open platform she has been laying on to a full up incubator. These are the conventional
style homes made of Lexan. They look like fish bowls with arm holes. Since she has to be
picked up to be placed in the fish bowl the nurses let Mom and Dad come it to hold her. They
sprint to the NICU. At 10:30 am the nurse picks Summer out of her bed wrapped in blankets
and places her in her Mother’s arms. Dad is capturing it all on video. After five short minutes,
Summer is placed in her Dad’s arms. She is so light - one hardly knows she is inside of the
blankets. Mom spends most of the day at the NICU helping out.
Day 21 - Saturday February 28, 1998
Trips to the NICU now become like watching the grass grow. Summer is extremely stable.
Her sensors are rarely beeping. Maybe they went off once during the Friday night visit for Dad.
On Saturday they are just as quiet. Mom goes early and spends most of the day with Summer.
Dad drives up late in the afternoon. All is quiet - we hope and pray it stays this way.
Day 22 - Sunday March 1, 1998
All is still quiet. Mom helps nurse change Summer’s bedding. We watch Summer sleep
most of the day. Her respirator is down to 10 bpm. Summer is breathing at about 40 bpm
This means she is actually taking 30 breaths per minute on her own. The respirator only helps
when she needs it or gets lazy. It the endo treacea tube falls out they will not replace it. They
will observe Summer to see if she can handle the breathing on her own. Mom and Dad are not
hoping for her to be completely off the respirator any time soon. We will be patient and let her
put a little more muscle and fat on first. Feedings have been increased to 4 cc’s every two hours.
She will have to get to 18 cc’s every two hours before they can remove the IV’s completely.
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