One Step Closer to a Closed Chest

One step closer to a closed chest!

Written Oct 25, 2011 9:56pm by Amber Gannon Medina

Getting a call from Mira's nurse this morning definitely freaked John and I out. Instead of bad news, it was good! Mira was able to get her chest stent taken out today. The stent is a piece of plastic that had been helping her chest stay wide open-something that is done after surgery because of all the swelling newborns endure. By the time we got to the surgery, Mira's chest had already started to slowly get smaller. 

We are starting (OK, not starting, we have already discovered in quite an intense way) that with a lot of the steps forward Mira makes, there are steps backward. After the stent was removed, Mira's heart became a bit agitated and started an irregular heartbeat. So the poor dear was put on more medication, including a pretty strong sedative that left her knocked out. She was also paced (put on a pacemaker).

Its a fine balance. With being so sedated, Mira stopped her little movements-she had been moving around and opening her eyes before today. That movement is what has been helping her get rid of her edema. Her edema is what is delaying the closing of her chest. Phew. A lot of catch 22's right there. 

John and I combat any disappointment in her hurdle jumping by celebrating all the amazing things she has accomplished. First one being-she is ALIVE! That's pretty amazing in itself. Also, she has started peeing like a champ! She has been able to take some breaths on her own. And my personal favorite-she has been able to hold on to our hands with her little fingers.

Mira's days are not boring! Today she was lucky enough to get an edema massage. Her social worker visited. Her buddy Courtenay visited and brought her a new stuffed animal. We played her lullabies that Jolene burned for her. Her Memaw read her some nursery rhymes. It was a good day!