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!


Sunday, January 29, 2012

Get This Tube Out of My Nose

Brodie has been doing great lately. He has not been without his challenges but overall we are so pleased with everything. We went the pulmonologist and he was happy with Brodie's progress and was optimistic about getting the trach out this year. While we were there he told our nurse to shut his oxygen off and he did quite well. The goal is to wean his oxygen and then try to get him off of it during the day. If we can do that we will move to weaning at night. If he handles that he will order a sleep study and makes sure his O2 and CO2 levels are good and then we can get the trach out. He feels like we might be able to do this by the time he turns one. I can't tell you how much this would change our lives. We stay so busy with his care even with nurses that we are more exhausted than ever and I am sure that it will only get more difficult. I am going to head back to work on Feb. 6 which will be great because it is time but it will be hard to leave LaVona. I think that being a stay-at-home is a difficult job in itself much less taking care of Brodie. We went to see the surgeon Monday and he said that he thinks he is getting over pneumonia. He said that the blood in the trach was from that. Scary to hear that word but we are encouraged that it did not land us in the hospital. We also talked to him about the g tube (feeding tube in the belly). He feels that he needs it and we agreed so he will probably have that surgery in an month an a half. The tube in his nose came out the other day and it was difficult to get back in because now that he is older and more aware he likes to fight us. If he was not a fighter he would not be here but come on Brodie don't fight your parents. The surgeon just wants to wait until the pneumonia fully clears up. On these two appts. we were reminded of what amazing men these two doctors were. We will forever be blessed just by knowing them and thankful that Brodie was in their care. Please continue to pray for Brodie and our family. Please pray especially for LaVona and I as we transition into our "new normal". When we actually can find time to reflect on theses past few months we are always amazed at the outpouring of love and support and we thank each of you for making this a wonderful journey and for teaching us what life is all about. Hope everyone is making the best of 2012 and I will try to keep this updated more often.

4 comments:

Suzan said...

great news Brodie...keep it up....I would like to get a bracelet if I still can...I don't have a paypal account....you can email me at
suzankimball@sbcglobal.net

Diane said...

Continued prayers for strength and healing for precious Brodie and your family. I am very appreciative of your sharing your journey with Brodie as it reminds me of how AWESOME OUR GOD is. Seeing the miracles He has performed thus far and i'm excited to see the miracles yet to come. It also reminds me that every breath we take is a precious gift, not the be taken for granted. Thank you for the witness that you and LaVona have been, as a couple and as parents. You are a blessing to everyone that shares your blog. TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE AND WILL CONTINUE DO TO.

Sonny and Bernadette said...

Praise God Brodie continues to do so well!! We continue to pray for Brodie and your family. I will definitely pray for you and LaVona as you both make the transition when you go back to work. I know it will be difficult, but rest assured your prayer warriors are still lifting your family up to God...and HE will take care of you...and HE will provide all you need!! Tell LaVona hello for me and give her a big hug...I miss her soooo much! Love and hugs to all---Berna

Lindsey said...

I'm happy to hear of Brodie's progress! I hope you are all doing well. I will say a special prayer for LaVona being a stay-at-home mom and taking care of Brodie while you are away at work. Thinking of ya'll.