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!


Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Less Than Two Weeks

Things have been going great and hectic up at the hospital. Brodie has been amazing and he has progressed to doing 8 hours on his trach mist collar. The goal is 12 hours a day on the mist collar and the vent at night and it looks like there should be no problem with that. He finally got his hearing screen done and he passed. We were always a little scared about that because of the stroke but were happy that he passed. LaVona changed his trach today and did outstanding. We have learned alot and still have a few things to do before we can leave. Right now there are a couple of decisions that we have to make. His head is a little misshaped because he was always laying on his left side so we have to decide whether to do a helmet or not to correct it. The second issue is whether to go home feeding through the nose or get a g tube. If we do the g tube he will not have anything on his face and he will not be trying to pull it out. The bad things are that it is another surgery and it may keep us from going home on the 19th. Decisions, decisions, decisions. LaVona and I can't decide where to eat most nights much less these more important decisions. He is always smiling and he loves his mobile. I am sad to say he likes his mobile more than he does us. He is really active and just moves his arms and kicks all day. We are so encouraged and pray that he will overcome the odds and make a full recovery. But, if he does have some challenges we still will have reached our goal of bringing him home and can't wait to wake up and him be there. Thanks to all that have continued to pray for our family. Brodie still has a bumpy road ahead and we are scared of what "could happen" but we feel that he is meant to be here and that we are capable of taking care of him. We will keep you updated on our decisions. Have a great week!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is awesome news he sounds like he is doing so good. I am so happy for you all! We will keep up the prayers for Brodie's full recovery! He looks so happy in the photos.
Letitia

Sonny and Bernadette said...

So happy to hear that Brodie is still doing so well and improving every day! May all the PRAISE AND GLORY BE TO GOD ALMIGHTY!!! It is so exciting to think he could be going home in two short weeks! I will continue to pray for his complete recovery. I will also pray for you and LaVona that God will guide you in your decisions you still need to make. HE has been there with you through such rough times and difficult decisions. And I know you both will make the best decision for Brodie according to God's will. May you find peace and comfort knowing HE continues to walk this journey with you all. I cant wait to see the post that Brodie is Home!! Have a blessed day and weekend...Love and hugs to you all!

Anonymous said...

Glad all is going well with Brodie. My daughter wore a helmet for 6month due to her 4month hospital stay. She had a flat back pf her head and it pushed her upper front left plate forward. Aggressive repositioning and phystherapy helped her. Now you can't tell she ever had to wear one. As always in my prayers and close to my thoughts.
Love and light, Liz
PS- everyone told us the helmet is harder on the parents than the child. Tori was used to it in a few days.

Fran said...

Thanking G-d for Brodie's ability to play and hear! Continuing to pray for the hard decisions you need to make. Praying for clarity from the LORD. Continuing to pray you and LaVona learn all you need to learn to go home with your son.
Much love in Christ, Fran xxoo
The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerated, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:17

Anonymous said...

So Glad that Brodie is continuing to heal and make progress! God is SO GOOD! Also, it was really great to meet you, LaVona and Bradie at Brooklyn's Birthday Party!

" With faith, nothing is impossible." ~ Matthew 17:20

(((HUGS)))