The morning at the PICU

Brayden landed in the PICU around 9:30 p.m. last night.  I was home with Carter and Luke, when I received a somewhat frantic call from Jeremy to drive back to the hospital.

His heart rate has been high, 160-190.  His breathing has been very difficult.  After his surgeries yesterday, he seemed to be in a lot of pain.  After several doses of morphine and one Ativan, he still was not doing well.  His heart was working hard to keep up with his labored breathing.

By the evening, he looked worse.  A team of people came in to assess him and decided to move him to the PICU.  Several things were tried...medication, breathing treatments, positioning.  He finally ended up on bipap, to help him breath.

The bipap seems to be helping a bit.  His little chest is violently thrusting up and down as it works.  The chest x-rays show that his lungs look good.  The breathing airways seem to be the trouble...due to being intubated twice and his already low tone.

Brayden was started on TPN last night so he is receiving some nutrition through his central line.  The g-tube and the j-tube are being vented since pushing air into his body could cause some problems for his tube sites.

So far this morning, his surgeon, GI doctor, respiratory team and PICU team have come through.  It is our understanding that they will work to get him off the bipap today, giving him periods of time without it on.  Once Brayden is successfully off the bipap, then we can start using his feeding tubes, hopefully tomorrow.

Brayden's body is tired.  He looks confused and with eyes of desperation looking to Jeremy and I for comfort.  Crying is too difficult for him.  They will continue to give him morphine and hopefully his will rest. 

Jeremy and I are taking turns snoozing on the fold out chair to the rocking chair to Brayden's bed.