They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
~ Psalm 112:7
Kadyn tested positive for shunt infection. He will have his second surgery this week to remove his shunt and replace it with an EVD (External Ventricular Drain). We will be in the hospital for a week to two weeks. Then before we go home he will have another surgery to replace his shunt, and hopefully no infections.
I can't believe this is happening. I did everything to prevent this, sanitized and washed all clothes and blankets. Cleaned everything when he first came home. I cleaned his wound with soap and water everyday and didn't use the same rag at all that I used on his body. I sanitized the tub before they bathed him and everything. Well, it happens.
He is set for surgery around mid to late afternoon. There is many cases like Kadyn's today. Oh boy.
I can't believe this is happening. I did everything to prevent this, sanitized and washed all clothes and blankets. Cleaned everything when he first came home. I cleaned his wound with soap and water everyday and didn't use the same rag at all that I used on his body. I sanitized the tub before they bathed him and everything. Well, it happens.
He is set for surgery around mid to late afternoon. There is many cases like Kadyn's today. Oh boy.
11 comments:
Oh no! I'll be praying for Kadyn and for you!
I will be praying for Kadyn and you. Your a good momma, dont blame your self. {hugs}
Sara,
I'm sorry for Kadyn and the fact you two will have to be in the hospital for 1-2 weeks...Stays like this are never easy.
I want to tell you not to beat yourself up over the fact he has an infection. I'm sure you did everything you possibly could.
As a nurse, I want you to know there are many more contributing factors to an infection that what happens at home. I'm not placing blame anywhere, but know that you don't have the only contributing factors. He was in the hospital (one of the germiest places around), he was in an OR, where believe it or not, there can be germs, even when it's considered "sterile", and then there is also the fact that he can just be super suceptible (sp?) to germs and the fact they tapped his shunt and opened his head could have introduced them.
You are good mommy. Keep up the good work, but please don't blame yourself!!
I'm so sorry you're going through this again. Please don't drown yourself in guilt. You're a good mom.
Hearing that there are so many cases like Kadyn's makes me wonder what the infection rate at U of M (where Cayman goes) is too. I'm wondering if it's typical for a hospital to have so many cases or if their sterile technique is not quite as thorough. It's just some thoughts. I'm not suggesting they are a bad hospital. It just makes a person wonder and think about these questions when you hear of some many cases at this one place. I might just be completely unaware if it is that same way at U of M, but I've never heard that it is.
Sarah u r an inspiring pillar of strength for me. i am a foster parent who found ur blog strangely at the same time my husband and i took our first specialized baby to foster. We had fostered other children before but never one with special needs. Anyway i just happened to be on youtube that night and came across the videos of kadyn i watched eveyone of them and cried my eyes out then i found the link to ur blog and have been following it ever since that was 2 months ago. u r such an inspiration to me i only hope to be as good a mother as u r to kadyn. My foster baby left 2wks ago and it almost killed me but i just keep telling myself i helped him and now i can help others im not afraid to take special needs children anymore thank u so much for opening my eyes it means more to me than u will ever know -ashley
Sara,
God is working in you! I love that you are being positive! Keep that mind set, it will enable you to be that much stronger for your adorable little man. Our thoughts and our continued prayers will remain with you and yours.
Sara,
I have never commented before, however I've been following your blog for awhile now. You truly are an amazing mom and Kadyn is an amazing boy! I just want you to know that you both are in my prayers always, but especially today.
Sue (in Rochester, NY)
Oh boy, I am praying for him and for you too! Kadyn is very lucky to have such a great mom like you. I know that he will be just fine and happy realllly soon. Much love from Indonesia.
-tiara-
Sara,
You are an Insperation to me. I work with Children and Adults some with the same condition that Kadyn has. You are such a strong Mother. You and Your family are in my everyday prayers. I found your blog by Mistake and I am Glad I did. I look forward to your blogs a couple times a week to see little kadyn and his daily progress, My sister has 3 foster children that are microsefalic ( not sure if I spelled that right) and one has a shunt as well. I Hope that Kadyn has a fast recovery and that you get lots of rest. Take Care ( Monica, WA)
Well, we were certainly hoping this wouldn't be the case.
I might suggest one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet. Is Kadyn a candidate for an ETV (Endoscopic Third Ventriloscopy)? This is where they basically put a hole in the floor of the third ventricle to allow the fluid to drain. Only certain types of hydrocephalus can be treated with this procedure, but if it is successful it can mean that they won't need a shunt. And since Kadyn is so prone to infection it might be a good idea to get rid of the bit of plastic that tends to harbor the germs. Just a question to ask your doc.
There isn't anything that you could have done to prevent this. I do have to ask if all 11 shunts have been placed at the same hospital? Some kids certainly are more prone to infection than others, but that's a pretty high rate and I'd at least wonder about the hospital if they were all done at the same place. And knowing that he is prone to such things, couldn't they have sent you home with some antibiotics to keep in for a few weeks? They have done that with us on occassion. It requires a central line (or at least a PICC, but a central is easier) but it's incredibly easy to do and might save you going through this again.
Hugs to you both!!!
I am sending prayers to Kadyn & is wonderful Mommy!!
Mary
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