Thursday 27 March 2014

Intensive

"You've been lucky you haven't had to go to the ICU so far!"

This is the most positive our nurse is able to be today. I don't blame her.

Dominic's liver kept getting bigger. They found some of the special drug they were about to order from Italy in the hospital, but it hasn't had much effect so far.

They gave him drugs to make him pee, just like back in September. But his diapers remain dry, and his weight - as low as 9.88 kilograms at the start of the month - is now 11.63.

He's uncomfortable, so they gave him morphine again. He doesn't look too bad until you lift up his shirt and see that burgeoning monster of a belly, full of liver and now kidney, too.

Everything he's endured with his liver has caused his kidneys to work harder, and now they're starting to fail. So today, while Trish and I were out getting a break at the movie theatre, we got a call from the hospital letting us know he's going to be moved to the intensive care unit.

I wasn't going to come to the hospital today. After driving through a snowstorm after work last night, I realized I was starting to feel ill. It got worse in the morning.

I'm here now, of course, albeit with a facemask on and unable to hold my son out of fear. Imagine what our fellow moviegoers were thinking when they saw us run out in a panic with a half hour left.

We're waiting to meet the ICU team. It'll be a new room, new rules, new nurses, and other parents who have been there have warned us they can't wait to come back to Unit 1 having been there.

Of course they can't wait. ICU means things are worse. Here means things are better. We all want better.

We don't know what's next, only that it's scary as hell.

7 comments:

  1. Our prayers are with you as you through this with Dominic. Our prayers go with doctors and nurse as well.

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  2. Praying extra extra hard for Dom and his family today.
    You are on our minds and we look for better news soon.
    Stay strong, please stay strong.

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  3. Hang in and stay strong. Prayers coming for you from the Hat. Let me know if I can do anything for you. I know the weight on your hearts.

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  4. Will keep Dom in my prayers. This must be a terrifying time for you all and we hope that it gets better soon. Fight hard little guy.

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  5. Prayers and positive thoughts headed your way. There are ups and downs in this journey. Soon you will be on the upswing. When the strength is hard to find, let the support and prayers of your friends and family support you. Keep breathing. Many have been in this situation and have come through it OK. That will also be your story. Take care.

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  6. Though we have never met, my heart goes out to you. So many times, the uncertainty, the waiting, is brutal beyond belief. I will be praying for you and your family...praying for strength, for wisdom, for courage...and that your family will be held, no matter what the future holds.

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  7. We are sending all three of you a lot of positive thoughts, strength and prayers to get through this part of your journey as quickly as possible. Dom has such a positive spirit that he will come through this....as long as his parents believe it, he will believe it - you both taught us that:)

    Will & Angie

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