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Aaron is a 25 month old male with full Trisomy 18 diagnosed
prenatally.
He was born via C-section at 37 weeks, 2 days due to
persistent heart decelerations with delayed recovery. He was not breathing at birth. Resuscitated via bagging and placed on CPAP
machine as intubation was difficult. He
weighed 2228 grams. Was weaned, with
difficulty to nasal cannula and discharged to home at 16 days with an apnea
monitor. Utah Valley Regional Medical
Center, Provo, Utah.
At 4 weeks he was admitted to Primary Children’s Medical
Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (PCMC) for moderate cardiac impairment. Treated with IV milrinone and lasix and put
on high-flow nasal cannula. Transitioned
back to regular nasal cannula, and to enteral digoxin and lasix and discharged 10 days later with the addition of a
pulse/ox machine. Digoxin was
discontinued at four months and lasix at 7 months.
At 2 months, Aaron weighed 2.9 kg. He had his last central apneic episode (noted
by absence of breathing, bradycardia, and O2 desat) at 2 months, 2
days. He was current on immunizations
and was on ng tube feedings. He was a
known CO2 retainer.
At 5 months, Aaron was admitted for g-tube/Nissan
surgery. Intubation was extremely
difficult and he was diagnosed with severe tracheobronchial malasia. Three days later he had a tracheostomy. Discharged to home after 17 days, on
LTV1150 with vent settings of rate of 30, tidal volume of 50, and a PEEP of
10. PCMC.
Since his tracheostomy, Aaron has successfully fought off
several upper respiratory infections and two pneumonias. The first, at 7 months, grew out pseudomonas
and resulted in a 6 day PICU stay.
Discharged to home with ciprofloxin and increased tidal volume. The second, at 16 months, grew out
pseudomonas, serratia marcesens and stenotrophomonas, also diagnosed reactive
airway. 16 day PICU stay and discharged
to home with antibiotics and albuterol (prn).
PCMC
Currently, Aaron is 12.1 kg and larger for age than any of
his eight older siblings were. He is
trached/vent dependent and g-tube fed.
He can sit with minimal support and is rolling over. He responds well to people, distinguishing
between his family and strangers, and even between his favorite night nurses
and others who know him. He is a happy
child who grasps toys (and tubes!) and brings them to his mouth. He loves to kick a ball around the bottom of
his crib.
Surgeries, all at PCMC:
4 months: g-tube/Nissan,
tympanostomy tubes, bronchoscopy.
Tracheostomy 3 days later.
13 months: cleft lip repair, ABR testing,
bronchoscopy, circumcision. Developed
hematoma on lip site 10
days later, evacuated and repaired.
16 months: bilateral percutaneous pinning of
talonavicular with lengthening of Achilles
Current diagnosis:
Trisomy 18,
Tracheobronchial malasia, Pulmonary hypertension, Atelectasis, Reactive airway,
Congestive heart failure, moderate
bidirectional VSD, small ASD, tiny PDA, Grade IV vesicoureteral reflux, Severe
bilateral hearing loss, Hypothyroid, Chronic cuteness.
2 months |
Birth |
Current: 25 months |
So sweet! And encouraging for the dad of a full T18 daughter, almost 6 months old!! Thanks for sharing your story! I'll be passing it on to family and friends.
ReplyDelete~Andrew Siebert
I'm so glad it give you hope! Our babies are the sweetest blessings. Keep me posted on how she does.
DeleteHi
ReplyDeletemy daugther was just born (1 month) and as full T18. She has Pulmonary hypertension and heart problems and im traing to understand this sindrome a litle better. Doctors dont want to operate to her heart because of her pulmonary condition. Does Aaron where oxigen because of the hypertension? can you help me untherstand a litle better what it is? Here in Portugal they dont know much.
thank you so much.
My email is emanunes@hotmail.com
We have just had a diagnoses of T18 and are expecting a little boy is March 2016, our 4th blessing. He has a lot of issues and are meeting the neo natal team this week and a fetal cardiologist the week after. It is good to read encouraging news about your little boy. We are in the UK.
ReplyDeleteGod bless your sweet boy Aaron and you for loving him and caring for him.
ReplyDelete