Sunday, November 05, 2006

Extra prayers are needed for Nate...

Some additional prayers are needed because Nate is currently in the PICU at St. John Hospital after a major crash this afternoon.

To make a very long story much shorter…About 12 Noon, he started having difficulties while Jen & Linda were coughing him and suctioning out his nose. He started to choke, his O2 saturation level dropped into the 60s and he started turning blue pretty quickly. We went through our standard procedures of bagging, coughing, suctioning, breathing treatment, using The VEST to help break up the secretions and getting him on the BiPAP several times.

Finally about 1:00PM, he seemed to stabilize so we started another breathing treatment and turn him on his side to let the secretions drain out. About 10 minutes later, all hell broke loose…Jen could tell that he started to choke so we started to suction but his O2 saturation level plummeted. We took off the BiPAP and started to bag him while Linda called 911. Even though we continued to bag him, his O2 level kept dropping and ultimately registered 0 for between 2 to 3 minutes. His heart rate stayed between 40 to 60 beats per minute but nothing we did could get his saturation level above 0 and we really thought that we were going to lose him. Finally, just before the Bixby Fire Dept. arrived, we were able to suction a big glob of mucus from his throat and his saturation level started to rise slowly. By the time EMSA arrived, his O2 saturation level was in the mid-80s and his heart rate was rising as well.

We transported him to the ER at St. John while the Paramedic and I bagged him the entire way. After getting an x-ray and talking to Dr. Carey, we moved him to the PICU. His left lung still has a mucus plug in it and is pretty much collapsed since there is minimal air in it. As we left the PICU tonight, the nurse was able to hear some very faint breath sounds on the left side. He will continue to get breathing treatments through out the night and CPT to try to dissolve the plug. He will be in the PICU until the plug is gone and his left lung re-inflates. He is also on antibiotics to fight of any infections that he might have plus some steroids for his lungs.

Once again, Nate continues to amaze us. We really thought that he was not going to make it since his O2 saturation level stayed at 0 and we could not get it to come up no matter what we did. Luckily, he is one tough little boy and has so much “fight” in him.

We thank you for your prayers and support and ask that you say a few extra ones for him over the next couple of days. We’ll keep you posted…

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Get well soon, Nate. God bless you. -The Montgomery's

Anonymous said...

We are praying for you guys!!!

Anonymous said...

Nathan! We are so sorry to hear you had a rough time yesterday! We send you loads of get well soon hugs and prayers!

blessings! Charlie Sykora (Kim, John & Lily too) www.our-sma-angels.com/charlie

Anonymous said...

Nathan,
Jana let us know that you are needing extra prayers right now so we're sending tons from Canada. God Bless you Little Man! Get well quickly.

The MacIntyres - Hayden (SMA Super I, almost 7 years), Lauren (SMA free, 3.5 years), Tina & Ian

Anonymous said...

Hey Nathan and family: We're praying for all of you and for the doctors and nurses caring for you. We're hoping you feel better REALLY soon. Hugs, Sue, Gene, Casey and Colin O'Neill