UPDATE on my son in the hospital--good news!!

[benEzra]

First of all, thanks to all who have expressed support, good wishes, thoughts, and prayers for my son in the original thread. He is doing MUCH better. I just got home from the hospital a couple hours ago (was there since Friday evening, now my wife has tagged in and I am home to recoup), and I just wanted to report that he is doing MUCH better. Took this photo this afternoon:



He has definitely turned the corner on this thing, and is doing well physically and is in good spirits. He asked to be moved from his bed to the chair by the window, so he could look down on the world outside, where there was a sidewalk, a bench, and a picnic table in a grassy area between the children's wing and the main hospital. I was glad I had my camera handy to catch this grin!

He is feeling good enough to charm the nurses again (he has had more girlfriends at age 7 than I have in my entire life...), is a little cranky when they mess with the IV but is generally cooperative and in good spirits. He has been on IV vancomycin and gentamycin since Thursday, plus a brief stint on a fluoroquinone, and has responded well. His fever is gone, his lungs are sounding much clearer, and they are gradually weaning him off the oxygen (he was down to 2 liters/min when I left this afternoon, and his O2 sat was hovering around 92 (he's normally 95-ish on room air), but his heart rate and respiratory rates are back to normal, and he looks great from a cardiac standpoint. He could come home as early as tomorrow or Tuesday, if his sats are OK off oxygen.

THANKS SO MUCH for all of the moral support!!!!!

bE

[havocmom]

1. Wonderful news! Thanks for the update

What a cutie he is!

[lizziegrace]

2. That's wonderful news!

You can see the spark of life in his eyes.

You and your wife must be relieved beyond words.

:hug:

[Cabcere]

3. Glad to hear

that good news, benEzra! :hug: I hope your son continues to grow stronger and healthier every day. :D (Did I mention he's adorable?)

[Mojambo]

4. This news totally makes my week.

I'm so happy for you and yours.

[blondeatlast]

5. WONDERFUL!

My prayers for his continued good health.

As one who has asked for more than my share of support from this board, I KNOW it can make a tremendous difference.

[Katherine Brengle]

6. OMG that's wonderful - isn't he just the cutest kid in the world?

I'm so happy for you and your family - hope things stay good!

[crim son]

7. I am so very glad to hear it.

He is a beautiful child! And he'll be home in time for you to spoil him on Valentine's Day :bounce:

[philosophie_en_rose]

8. Great news!

I hope he feels even better really soon. :loveya:

[Zookeeper]

9. Thank you for updating us, BenEzra....

I'm so happy to hear that your wonderful boy is doing better!

Please let him know that we've been thinking of him.

:hug:

[Maestro]

10. I am so glad to hear that.

Tell the brave little guy that there is another guy in Texas rootin' for him!

[Pierre.Suave]

11. Great

I wish him the best!

[Redbear]

12. Glad your son is doing well

Prayers that he continues to do well.

[auntAgonist]

13. I hope he continues to get better

He has such a pleased grin on his face. This good news brought tears to my eyes. Get some rest Dad, I have a feeling your son is going to use up all of your energy on boy stuff when he's feeling better :)

:hug: for you and his mom and a huge :hug: for him.

aA
kesha

[LadyoftheRabbits]

14. Aww, I'm so glad...

He's adorable. :hug:

[PassingFair]

15. Thank Goodness!

My littlest daughter was in the hospital with double pneumonia
when she was 1-1/2. It was the WORST week of my life.

I remember how great it felt when her oxygen levels were heading
back to normal! Hope things get "back to normal" for you and yours.

If I recall, the next phase will be getting him to keep the
STEROIDS down. My daughter had to have the liquid form...

:puke:

for days!

She still suffers for viral-induced asthma, and has to be
watched when she gets a bronchial infection.

Has he ever been diagnosed with RSV?

[benEzra]

43. He was hospitalized with RSV once

but it was a couple of years ago. Fortunately, I think this bout was caused by a milder bug (RSV is a really tough one to shake).

[PassingFair]

49. Once they've had RSV they are more susceptible to

pneumonia. It does lasting damage to the lungs somehow.

It SUCKS.

[Left Is Write]

16. That's great news!

:)

[mentalsolstice]

17. I hope YOU rest in peace, knowing your baby is well! n/t

[GenDem]

18. I'm so glad for your little boy and your family!!!!!

He is so cute. I've thought of him often since your original post. I hope that you will have him back in his own house tomorrow or shortly there after!:hug:

[Scarlett17]

19. That's awesome!

He looks great and I am so happy for all of you. Good thoughts still coming your way.

:grouphug:

[SeattleGirl]

20. That's wonderful news, benEzra!

I'm so happy for your son, and your family.

[QMPMom]

21. That is wonderful news!

[qanda]

22. That is good news

I hope he continues to improve.

[deadparrot]

23. I'm glad to hear it.

Hope he keeps improving. :hi:

[u4ic]

24. Great news!

I hope he'll be back in good health very soon! :hug:

[Nicole]

25. Glad to hear the good news!

:hug:

[fortyfeetunder]

26. Great news!

Thanks for sharing
:bounce:

[zonkers]

27. Good for you. Gorgeous kid. Wish you the best. Get him anything he wants!!!

After fainting spells, I know its a different situation but my cousin received a pacemaker when she was two and has been kicking ass ever since. She is 18 and the greatest.

[LaraMN]

28. What great news!

What a hard thing to deal with, as a parent. It's amazing how tough and resilient little people can be, but that knowledge doesn't make it much easier when you're watching your baby hurt.
I'm so glad things are looking up for your little dude.

Many hugs to all of you, and good vibes for his continued improvement.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[MonkeyFunk]

29. I'm so happy to hear that....

that's great.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

30. My thoughts, prayers, best wishes and positive vibes to your son

He sounds like a true fighter and a wonderful kid. I know some of what he must be going through because I was in hospital for some time when I was around his age. He sounds like he has a tremendous spirit. FWIW, I don't blame him for being grumpy with the IV -I hated and still do hate that thing

He's a brave little boy who has been through a lot. Lots of hugs to him and I hope he comes home soon and all the best for a speedy and comprehensive recovery

[Shine]

31. Fantastic news!!

:bounce: still sending you and yours blessings of good health and continued healing. :hug:

[The Traveler]

32. Great news

and thanks for bringing us up to date. Keeping a candle lit ...

Trav

[uppityperson]

33. Missed 1st thread, glad he is doing better now.

Hoping he continues to improve and all goes well for you all.

92 sounds much better than 80ish. I tried holding my breath to see how low I could go, got down to 85 and had to quit. Sounds like that is quite a kid you have.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

34. I'm so glad to hear this, BenEzra!

I'm sure he is quite the charmer!

Keeping you all in my thoughts... :hug:

[Robeson]

35. Best wishes to him and you....

...:thumbsup:

[grace0418]

36. Here's a heart from me to give to your sweet darling boy.

I hope you don't mind if he has yet another girlfriend!

So happy he's feeling better!

[Arugula Latte]

37. Great news! Hooray!

:toast:

[KT2000]

38. Oh that is great!

Sorry I missed the first thread but did catch up.
He is a beautiful child and am so glad he is on the mend.
Can't imagine the stress you and your wife have been through - so wishing you ALL well.

[madrchsod]

39. early morning good news

that`s why we are here to provide aid and comfort to our friends

[Skittles]

40. he is a handsome little chap

yes INDEED !!!

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. Great News!!!

Keep getting better baby boy!! :bounce: :grouphug: I'm so glad to hear this.

[Spacemom]

42. Awesome news!

And that's a wonderful picture. He has the cutest smile.

More continued good wishes and speedy recovery vibes. :hug:

[latebloomer]

44. Wonderful news!

May he keep improving rapidly!

:hug:

[July]

45. I am so happy for your son and for you, benEzra.

He is a beautiful boy, too.

[NewJeffCT]

46. Glad to hear good news

I hope it's all good from here on out.

[NC_Nurse]

47. That is wonderful news!!!

I'm so happy for you! :hug:

[Midlodemocrat]

48. How wonderful!

Big kiss to that sweet little face.

[1gobluedem]

50. That's wonderful!

Hope it continues! :woohoo:

[redqueen]

51. Oh wow...

I'm so glad to hear he's doing better.

:hi:

[Connonym]

52. Super news. I hope he continues to improve.

Give him a hug for all of us, ok?

[skygazer]

53. I'm so happy to hear this

Kids really humble me with their strength and courage when they're ill. I'm so glad to hear he's doing well. :hug:

[Ms_Dem_Meanor]

54. He looks great!

I will keep praying for HIM, you and the rest of the family. :) :hug:

[Madspirit]

55. Great News!! n/t

[belladonna]

56. I missed the original thread

But let me send some good vibes anyway! My gawd, he is such a CUTIE :loveya:

Give him a hug for me and from all of us here at DU!

[medeak]

57. ditto!

sats are great...he's going to be fine and what a doll!

[elfrangel]

58. Such GREAT News!!!!

so happy for you and yours. Will continue sending good vibes your way. :hug:

[tigereye]

59. poor guy, glad he is better!

:hug: for you and your family.

[benEzra]

60. ANOTHER UPDATE (Monday evening, 2/12)...

I ran some clean clothes to the hospital for him this evening, and he and my wife were in the pediatric unit playroom, where he was playing with some toy cars OFF OXYGEN!!! He's still on O2 while he's in his room, but he's doing well enough off the O2 that they are OK with him being off the cannula in the playroom for an hour or two at a time. He's drinking his formula pretty well, and his appetite seems to be mostly back. They will probably keep him another day or two b/c of the IV antibiotics (they'd really like him to do at least 1 week of the vanco/gentamycin), but we can deal with that.

I also ran his current-favorite movie up there, at his request, How Bob Became a Builder (from the "Bob the Builder" series, for those of you who don't have young children...the rest of us can all sing the theme song by heart and/or play it on the guitar...). He now has his tunes, since the hospital scrounged us a working CD player, his Legos (big bin of them on his bed), a puzzle, his Buzz and Woody dolls, and the people I work with passed the hat and got him a teddy bear and balloons.

He's REALLY tired of being in the hospital, but was still pretty cheerful while I was there, which in the big scheme of things is pretty darn good. My wife had a bit of a migraine, but not too bad, and she's hanging in there. I took her a sandwich from Hardee's, and that helped...

I am grateful for all the well wishes and prayers from everyone! You guys are great.

bE