April 24, 2007

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” Psalms 9:1-2

Kyle had a quite night last night! When I came in this morning, his oxygen was at 39% and his platelet count increased to 81. Kyle’s blood gasses looked good; however, the x-ray showed that he still has some issues with the right middle and base lobes of his lung. They are going to increase the pressure of the ventilator (PEEP – Positive end-expiratory pressure) in order to expand his lung volume. To make a long story longer, they will not be transitioning Kyle to NCPAP today.

Unfortunately it appears Kyle has an inguinal hernia that recently ‘popped up’. Hernias are common among preemies because their stomach muscles are so thin. When babies are born prematurely and they use their intestines earlier, there is more pressure and fullness to the tummy. An inguinal hernia develops in the groin at the level of the skin crease between the leg and the abdomen. In a baby boy the bowel loop protrudes into the scrotum. According to Kyle’s doctor, since the hernia is on his left side, it can ‘spread’ to his right side producing a double hernia. Usually hernias on the right side will not spread to the left. On a grand scale, the hernia is the least of our concerns but will need to be repaired surgically at some point.

Wonder (By Natalie Merchant)

Doctors have come to see me,
From different cities,
Just to see me.
Stand over my bed, disbelieving, what they're seeing
They say I must be one of those Wonders of God's own creations
And as far as they see they can offer no explanation.
I believe fate smiled and destiny
laughed as she came to my cradle.
"This child will be able"
laughed as my body she lifted,
"Know this child will be gifted"
With love, with patience and with faith
He'll make his way.