Here We Go Agian

Joey has not made anything easy for us. It seems that any complication that can happen with a procedure Joey takes the challenge to accept. This morning Joey had his third surgery due to a pocket of fluid that was causing an infection in his stomach. When the bowel becomes injured it can become sticky and sometime after a procedure, like Joey had, fluid that should be draining gets walled off and stuck in a section. This stuck fluid needs to be drained so that it does not make you sick.

Joey had been recovering nicely from his procedure two weeks ago. Late last week he was showing soft signs that an infection was brewing. After several tests all signs were pointing towards something going on with the gut. There was suspicion of fluid in the stomach that would have to be removed and worse case, more dead bowel. Exploratory surgery would be needed to see what was going on.

The procedure was really quick and again Joey tolerated it great. Upon immediately opening him up a large pocket of fluid was found that needed to be surgically drained. Luckily, there was no dead bowel. The intestines and belly were extremely swollen from fluid and inflation caused by the infection. Due to this the doctors did not close his belly up. His intestines and stomach will remain open for some time until swelling goes down and they heal. In a few weeks they should be able to close him back up.

One possible explanation for the pocket of fluid could be that feedings were started too soon. All of this started a few days after he started getting milk and it is possible that his belly was not ready for it. Moving forward the doctors are going be extremely cautious and move very slowly with feeding. Right now they are talking about waiting at least 8 weeks to try milk again! This was not great news to me as it extends are hospital time and I have two freezers overflowing with milk.

All of these set backs have been more then frustrating. Some days I feel like we are never leaving the hospital. Right now I can not see the light at the end of tunnel. Joey has been through so much already and still has a very long way to go. All we want is to have him home and that does not sounds like it is going to happen for a very long time. I feel like we are running a marathon and have  hit a "wall" at mile 8. 

We have been through so much that we have become numb to these big set backs. For any other parent hearing that your 2 months old is going to have a surgery is a big deal. We have been through so much that now any major thing feels routine..

After persistent set backs and not feeling like there is an end in sight I have still remained positive and hopefully through everything. Getting upset or angry is not going to make our situation any easier. I wish I had a crystal ball that could tell me what the future holds for Joey. Unfortunately, no one does and I have to be patient and hope for the best.