Not much concrete news yesterday and today regarding blood tests or x-rays. So I will simply share with you what we observe and hear on site.
We know that we have to wait forty-eight hours after the removal of the ECMO, and this period ends this afternoon.
Gabriel seems to be improving little by little in terms of his lungs.
Regarding his kidneys, we think they are starting to recover.
Yesterday, his urine was a very dark color, almost like blood.
Today, it’s already much clearer, with some residue that looks like small stones.
For the liver, we don’t have any precise information yet.
The doctors are waiting for the results, but for now, nothing is certain about this concerning point.
He has started to be fed through the gastric tube again, with, if I understood correctly, a laxative to help him evacuate and gradually get rid of the bilirubin responsible for his jaundice.
This morning, he gave us a very nice surprise. He opened his eyes!
Pure happiness!
Update at 4:45 PM
The doctor informed us that:
- His lung is improving.
- His liver is still affected, but seems to be more or less stabilizing (some results are decreasing and others are increasing, to be monitored very closely in the coming days).
- His kidneys are evacuating, but not sufficiently.
To help him eliminate waste, they decided to insert a catheter in his abdomen and start a treatment called peritoneal dialysis.
This treatment allows for blood purification, as the kidneys would do. It’s a gentler and safer option for babies than traditional dialysis.
They are currently placing this catheter (minor surgical procedure) as I write these lines.
I also discovered in the blood culture results from the 12th that a bacterium called Stenotrophomonas maltophilia had been detected in his lungs. It was most likely contracted in the hospital. The good news is that it is already being treated with antibiotics.
In short, the battle continues, even if the trend is towards gentle improvement.
So we continue to send him good vibes and pray for him, he needs it!
Thank you.
