Scope Update

Rowan had his scope on Monday at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. We left Sunday to take the girls to my parent's in Akron, Ohio. We were told we would probably have to stay overnight at the hospital so we had to pack for several contingencies. We left my mom's at 4 a.m. Monday morning in order to get to Pittsburgh by 6:30. Sure, that was fun. What a great hospital though. The staff was absolutely wonderful. Not only professional, but caring and friendly too. We felt really well taken care of. I was able to go into the O.R. with Rowan for the beginning of his surgery. Before the docs anestitized him, Dr. Kitsko scoped his voice box. He wanted to see it while Rowan was crying, not asleep. It was normal, by the way. It was so cool to see. Most parents who opt to go into the O.R. only go until their child is put under but since part of Rowan's procedure started before anesthesia I got to see more. The docs were worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it, seeing him cry. Silly, silly. I wasn't worried about Rowan. I knew he'd be fine. I just wanted to see as much of his surgery as possible. I would have stayed for the whole thing if they'd let me. I should go back to school to be an O.R. nurse, but when would I have time to do that? The surgery lasted about an hour and a half. After about an hour I started to get pretty nervous because I thought it was only supposed to last about 45 minutes but all was well. Dr. Kitsko came and confirmed what we had been told to suspect: tracheamalacia. Rowan's trachea is underdeveloped, floppy, and about 60% of the size it should be. It's pretty rare, of course, and there is no way of knowing what caused it. The good news is that it should self-correct by 36 months, possibly earlier. The doc also put him on anti-reflux drugs. I guess I should get that prescription filled. After doing some research online my only concern is that tracheamalacia may also indicate other problems like reflux, developmental delays, and heart defects. He's definitely got developmental delays but that could be explained by being in an institution for five months. Doctor Kitsko seems to think he has reflux but that is easily fixed, isn't it? Heart defect? Two short words that make my blood run cold. I wouldn't normally worry except that he sweats so much when he sleeps and eats I finally googled it and it also said it could be a sign of a heart defect. Wow! It's probably nothing and I don't plan on worrying but I sure will be praying and yeah, Trini, I'll call his pediatrician to see what she thinks. He continues to be an absolute joy and worth everything we did to get him here. God's timing is so perfect. Right now in Ethiopia there are so many delays and they have put a stop to all adoptions of baby's who were abandoned in Addis Ababa, which was Rowan. Even though parent's have gotten referrels of children they may not get their children home for a very long time. How thankful I am to be able to hold him so close to me every day, every day. There is also a serious formual shortage in Ethiopia now. Babies are not getting the nutrition they need. Children are dying for lack of food (not just orphans, I mean). Why should any child cry because they have an ache in their tummy? Why should any mom cry in anguish because she has to watch her child go hungry day after day? Can you imagine having to make the decision to give up your child so that they might eat and therefore live? I have so much to be thankful for, more than I recognize. I'm sure you do too. Thank God today for all you have and pray for these children and parents who have so little. If you are interested check out Tom Davis' blog. He just returned from Ethiopia and has a lot to say about the state of orphans there. You'll have to google it since my neighbor always sends it to me I'm not sure of the exact address.