Namine’s stoma infection

Namine is in the hospital again. Following on the heels of last night’s post (actually, it was probably early morning) is the news that Jessica and my mom took her into the ER this morning.

Last night, I was afraid she was going to throw up mucus, because she had so much. This morning, my fears were realized. Twice. So I spent most of the morning with Namine, Jessica, and my mom in the ER. They admitted her early this afternoon.

A little clarification, for the uninitiated. I tend to forget that these words are, in fact, not common knowledge. (Maybe I should make a glossary page. Would people actually use it?) The hole in Namine’s throat where the trach used to be is called a stoma. If Namine still had a trach in, she’d have what we call a trach infection. But she doesn’t, so instead we call it a stoma infection.

Really, a trach infection is not much more than a cold. But while a normal person breathes through their mouth and nose, which are the first line of defense and act as a filter for all the crap in the air, a trach patient breathes through the trach, which is a direct pipeline to their lungs. This allows all that crap that’s normally filtered out to get into your lungs, making what would normally be just a plain old cold into a serious illness.

And that leads me to another thing about losing the trach: with a trach infection, we’d call pulmonary and have her started on TOBI meds, end of story. We’ve dealt with trach infections before, and this would be no different. (Do not misunderstand me – trach infections are serious, and they can be deadly if you don’t catch them. But Jessica and I are attentive, vigilant, and loving parents. We know the risks, and understand the steps to take.) But there’s no trach, so we can’t suction her when she’s all horky. (You know what I mean. Phlegmy. Mucusy.) Namine has to learn now how to cough the mucus out; really, all we can do is wipe it away.

They tried twice to get an IV into Namine’s arm down in the ER, with no success. They may try again later tonight as well. But I swear, if someone comes in and wakes her up at 2:00 in the morning to do it, someone is getting their ass kicked.

So Namine is all situated in a PICU room now, and she’s on 50% oxygen, with her sats now sitting at about 90. Her secretions have been swabbed and taken for culture, and they’re testing for all kinds of respiratory infections, including influenza and H1N1. Because she hasn’t yet been cleared of H1N1, we have to wear masks.

I plan on spending the night at the hospital tonight. Good thing it’s the weekend and I don’t have to work tomorrow, because it means no sleep for Paul. I’m already running on about 2 hours of sleep, but that’s okay. I would bleed myself dry for Namine. I would tear out my worthless heart if she needed me to.

3 responses

  1. Leah, Mike & alyssa Avatar
    Leah, Mike & alyssa

    Aw poor girl. Yes, as a parent most of us would give our right arm for our children. I’ll keep praying for Namine. How’s Jess’s mom doing?

  2. Stats

  3. I am so proud of you two!!! I see SUCH a difference in your postings from when Namine first got the trach. You guys have learned so much!!! (Please don’t misread this as talking down to you AT ALL… just so proud!!!) In fact, some of the ways you describe things, Paul, I think to myself: “I should say it THAT way, too!” I am of course devestated that Namine is in the hospital again so soon, but know that you two will do what it takes like always.

    Oh, and Jess, I have to go with Paul on this one: it IS ‘sats’ (aka~ saturations… I think ‘stats’ is a rundown of everything: O2, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature… all the vitals.)

    PLEASE let us know what is going on when you have time!!!

    Love you three from us three.

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