Sunday, May 31, 2009

We're still in Denver....

I'm not sure how many of you know about Landon, so I decided to write on here to give everyone an update.

We made our way to Denver on Monday and stayed overnight in a small town a little more than half way to Denver, so that we could take Landon to the Denver aquarium on Tuesday. We ended up taking Landon to see the fish, but he wasn't all that interested in the fish...only the exit signs and the numbers on the tanks...I don't know...he's a funny kid.

On Wednesday we took Landon in for his procedure and waited in the waiting room like we always do, preparing ourselves for the mad Landon we always get back. As we were waiting we heard someone call over the intercom system a "code blue" for someone in radiology. Braydon and I got really scared, but reassured ourselves that he was fine. About 10 minutes later, as Braydon decided he needed to use the bathroom, a nurse came into the waiting room and called for us. I stood up and made my way over to her and she said that she needed to speak with us and immediately my heart dropped. As we were waiting for Braydon, I asked her if everything was alright, and she just kept saying that she needed to speak to both of us. When Braydon got back from the bathroom, she walked us into the hallway and told us that at the end of Landon's procedure his heartrate had dropped to lower than 60 beats per minute, and they had to start CPR on him. She took us close to where Landon's procedure room was and we waited as nurses and doctors (even the AirLife people that take people to hospitals in the helicopter) came in and out of his room. Occasionally someone would come out and tell us that he had a good heartbeat and blood pressure. What felt like 30 minutes later, the doctors came out and told us that at the end of the procedure when they were just about to move Landon onto a bed to take him to recovery, he ended up having a bronciospasm basically where the broncials close off. They think that at that time Landon had air in his lungs and went to cough and therefore punctured both of his lungs, and his lungs collapsed. That's what made his heartbeat drop and why they needed to perform CPR. It was something that happens occasionally, but they hadn't seen it to this degree.

Landon has been in the PICU since Wednesday, but is doing really well. They had to put chest tubes into his chest to get all the air out so his lungs would be alright. They just removed those yesterday, and they haven't seen any air in his chest cavity since then....which is good. :) He is off all of the medications they were giving him. He didn't get much sleep last night and we were worried cause he kept stiffening up like he was in pain. When we talked to the doctor today, she said that he might be having withdrawals from some of the medications he was on. So we're going to have a couple more days of trying to get him off the pain medications. Fun! :)

All in all, it was a tramatic experience, but it also taught me and Braydon a lot. We're going to slow down with the procedures and not come back until early fall. The anestesiologist said that it might have been caused due to the fact that he only had 6 weeks to recover and he might have needed longer than that. So we are going to take her advice, plus for the fact that we don't want to put ourselves through that again so soon. He will need these procedures, so we have to figure out a way to get them for him. The anestesiologist also said that now we will take extra procaution when we do it again.

We have also learned to not take anyone for granted. Braydon and I both thought we were going to lose Landon on Wednesday. We're glad we didn't and we won't take anyday we get with him for granted. Hopefully, this can also help others reading this to learn the same lesson. We are so happy that Landon came out of this and we will be even more excited when we get to take him home and spend more time with him.

I want to thank everyone that already knew about this for all of your concern and support through all of this. It was very reassuring to know that you all cared. Thank you so much. We love you all and I'll keep everyone updated. XOXO

4 comments:

Kathy said...

Every day we have is a gift honey....enjoy each one and don't worry about the tomorrows. We are saying lots of prayers for all three of you. We love you guys so much!

Mom

Unknown said...

I just wanted to pop in and tell you how much I love and care about each of you. Kisses to Landon. xoxo-Aunt Annette

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness. Dawn, I am so sorry that you had to go through that. I can not imagine how scared your mommy heart was in those long moments. And I am so thankful that God was holding Landon in His hands through the whole thing. Life is so delicate. I love you and admire your strength. I am praying for you three. I love you!
Laura A.

Unknown said...

I was shocked to read this! You are right--it is easy to take the time we have with our loved ones for granted. I am so thankful Landon was strong and got through that most difficult day--and that you and Braydon made it too, and that the Denver team did what they needed to do to help him. I cannnot imagine what you must have been going through, and how difficult it still must be.
You guys are such great parents to Landon and have always put his safety and health first--be reassured of this!!
I'll be praying for you all! much love, Carla