Mason's Fight Continues

November is Preemie Awareness Month with the March of Dimes. Mason started fighting for his life, much earlier than he should have - 5 weeks into our pregnancy when we found a blood clot where Mason -the embryo had attached. Things went from bad to worse 17 weeks into our pregnancy when we found out that Mason didn't have enough amniotic fluid and might not make it. He continued to fight harder than any baby should and didn't make his outside world debut until 32 weeks, 1 day. Mason's fight continued and he lived thanks, in part, to discoveries made possible by the March of Dimes - surfactant and nitric oxide. As we move closer to Thanksgiving, we are thankful every day for everyone and everything that has allowed our son to continue to be with us today. We owe his miraculous life to God, Mason's own fighting spirit, the wonderful doctors and nurses in the NICU who fought to keep him alive, and to the March of Dimes for the medical discoveries.

Mason's fight continues today. He continues to need a little more oxygen each day, but keeps his spirits up for the most part. We met with the lung doctor today and asked a bunch of questions about the possibility of a trach and vent as well as what else might be going on. He did say that he noticed a possible something going on in Mason's right lung that wasn't present when he came in. It might be that he caught some kind of bacteria or infection since arriving and that may be causing the worsening of symptoms. Mason also had a bacteria culture come back indicating that he has "colonization" of 3 different bacteria. He doesn't have enough of any of them that they should have caused Mason's symptoms to worsen, but Mason never follows the "shoulds." His body does exactly what it wants when it wants, regardless of how it "should" respond. The lung doctor doesn't really agree that the sodium levels are contributing much to Mason's increased oxygen needs, rather its probably what's going on in the lungs physically. So, after many conversations today between the attending pediatrician and the kidney doctor, the infectious disease doctor, and the lung doctor, we have a plan at least for the next 7 days. Mason is going to receive a couple of high powered antibiotics to fight whatever is in his right lung and hopefully help him to turn the corner. If after 7 days he is somewhat better, they will continue the course for another 7 days. It is not uncommon for kids with similar lung issues to come into the hospital for a 14 day course of these antibiotics every once in a while. Guess we'll just have to pray that it works and we can finally think about better days ahead.

As far as our plan I mentioned last night, there isn't much support from the physicians. I'm not sure they realize how much we know about what affects Mason and how credible we are most of the time. We got a couple of pats on the head for thinking about it, but really, no backing. We're not giving up, just allowing room for other options. We will continue to fight!

As far as the trach goes, we don't see it in the near future. It is always going to be a possibility, but if we can get Mason back to baseline with the other, less invasive things, we are going to try every other option. We will continue to fight!