Welcome to our site about our son Brodie Dick who will join our family on August 8, 2011 at 8:00. At 22 weeks we went in to find out if we were having a boy or a girl and we found out that we were having a boy but that he may have a birth defect. After an agonizing week we found out that our son had CDH (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia). CDH occurs when the diaphragm fails to fully form, allowing the abdominal organs into the chest cavity and preventing lung growth. CDH occurs in 1 of every 2500 births and a baby with CDH is born every 10 minutes. 50% of babies diagnosed with CDH do not survive. The cause is not known. This will be a journal of our journey and will allow our family and friends to keep up to date on what is happening with us and our son Brodie. Thanks for your prayers and support!
Friday, September 9, 2011
2 Steps Forward 1 Step Back
Brodie had a tough night last night. We called late last night and they said that at midnight they had to increase his oxygen back up to 80%. Then we came in this morning and the lights were off and he was at 100% oxygen. The good news is that they did not go up on any other settings on the oscillator. We are at least taking 2 steps forward and then one step back. Before it seemed like we were taking one step forward and two back. They have started to wean the oxygen again so at least that is encouraging news. We are very perplexed at what happens here at night and can't quite seem to figure out why he does better during the day and not so good at night. We need to get our sleep but if he continues this we will have to start pitching tent in his room. He looks a little better today because the swelling has gone more to the back so he look slightly more like himself. Hopefully he will have a good Friday and we hope you do as well. LaVona is holding up pretty good but the process is starting to break her down. She is just feeling helpless and wants to help Brodie but can't. I give everyone permission to blow her email and phone up with encouraging words. She needs a pick me up and I just keep saying the same things over and over so it has become rather ineffective. Thanks for your prayers and support. Even after a few decent days this is still emotionally and physically draining.
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3 comments:
I'm so sorry to hear that you experienced this small set back and that LaVona is starting to break down. I'm sure this is not easy for either one of you. Stay strong and be there for each other. Keep praying.
keep the faith....fight the fight...Brodie is not giving up so neither will any of us...sending lots of hugs for everyone & prayers many times a day..Brodie is always in my thoughts...
I don't know you two personally but as I follow this story I feel so close to you and your story. I saw this story on one of my son's NICU nurse's facebook and fell in love with your family from the moment I started reading. I have had experiences in the NICU with very premature babies. My first son was born at 29 weeks and he was just 2lbs 12oz. He was also born with 3 hernias of his abdomen and club feet. My daugher (now 6 months old) was born 8 weeks premature and 4lbs 5oz. They will never know why I delivered them so early but I remember a lot of the stuff you are talking about. Our journeys were EASY compared to yours and I cry reading every one of your posts. The nurses at Magee Women's NICU in Pittsburgh always told us about "wimpy white boys" and to "never ever trust a preemie" I rode the exhausting roller coaster with my son for 45 days and my daugher for 22 before bringing them home. With all the As & Bs & desats, ventilators, cpaps, O2, feeding tube, wires, IVs, and everything that goes with preemies. Things we never dreamt our babies would ever have to go through let alone when they are so tiny. I just want to let you know that God is in control and has a plan for you guys. Try so hard to lean on each other and him together. We listened to Mark Shultz's song "He's my son" It will make you cry but it is perfect for the situation you're going though. I pray for you guys every single night and I wait for the posts throughout the day. Prayer is so powerful and it is heard. Do not give up. Brodie is one in a million!!!
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