Gaines' Condition Update

I don't really have much of an update. Gaines is having a really good day but really not much has changed today. Gaines really seems to be taking to his new cannula. I found out today that it is a high flow/high humidity nasal cannula and it is a lot like CPAP. It offers more pressure like CPAP which Gaines really seems to respond to. I think I'll update you all on Gaines' condition. I don't know that I've really done that in a while...probably because I am only now coming to really understand it.

Gaines' lungs are not like regular 29 week preemie lungs. His lungs were/are much, much worse. A normal preemie has immature lungs...Gaines were immature as well but they are also hypoplastic. This link (http://www.pediatricweb.com/seattle/article.asp?ArticleID=829&ArticleType=9#1) does a good job of describing the differences in immature and hypoplastic lungs. His lungs are like this because my water broke so early and he was without fluid for so long not because he was premature. I was blessed to hold off on labor for 5 1/2 weeks but those were 5 weeks that Gaines' lungs didn't get the practice breathing.

I know your next question...would I have been better off having him at 24 weeks? The answer is no. If he had been born when my water broke we'd be fighting an immature lung battle, possible brain issues, possible sight problems etc. Obviously there are 24 weekers without these problems but because of Gaines age and size we didn't have to fight many of the battles that we very easily could have.

Anyway, we have seen several doctors along this journey. Four that we really trusted at GW and three (so far) here that we are learning to trust. While all of these doctors have differing opinions on the best way to actually treat Gaines' lungs, they all agree on his problem and they all agree that his recovery is going to take some time. It could be several more months before he is ready to go home and even then it will be on oxygen and it could be for two years or so. Obviously we hope not but it very easily could be that long.

I'm not sure if I ever passed this along but it can't hurt to tell it again. When Gaines was first born and was having so many problems his doctors told us about three other babies that had similar circumstances as Gaines and that none of them made it. At the time I was under the impression that these had been recent cases. It wasn't until several weeks later that we learned that the doctors meant they had 3 other babies in 25 years with these circumstances. It really makes me realize just how sick Gaines was so early on and how much of a miracle he is now. I said it earlier this week, he shouldn't be here and he is. That is not an accident. God has big plans for this little boy.

I feel very good about where Gaines is right now in his recovery. I really like his doctor this week and I'm very confident that he is doing the absolute best thing for Gaines. I just know that its going to take a while and I'm ok with that (today!). Now that I'm starting to understand more about Gaines' condition I'm much more relaxed day to day as I'm not expecting drastic changes.

One other quick note...Our little 3 pounder hit 7 pounds last night! I tell you...that little boy is so precious. I love every minute that I get to hold him.

Please keep praying.

Love to all,

Brittany