Dilation take 2

Last week we had Carter's second dilation attempt. We went in thinking that it was totally working due to the fact that his eating improved literally overnight, he no  longer needed oxygen, and he sounded better on his speaking valve. I had some doubt, but will talk about that later. Boy were we let down when the doc told us that it wasn't working as well as he had hoped it would. His airway was about half way open, which seems like a big improvement, but given all his other stuff it isn't enough. He went ahead and dilated it again and said that we will go back down in a month and check the progress. He thinks that we will most likely need to go the surgery route. With Carter's lungs, paralyzed vocal chord, and narrow airway also known as the trifecta around here he needs a nearly perfect airway to breath successfully without the trach. He would have no problem breathing normal with with one or maybe two of the problems, but three definitely cancels it out. We forget sometimes the condition of his lungs, because even though they don't cause us alot of grief we need to remember that they were four months under developed and we do 6-8 breathing treatments a day to stay up on them. 

The Sunday before we went in for the procedure we went to the NICU reunion. It was so good to see past nurses, doctors, and babies all in much better conditions. Below is a pic with Carter and Dr. Perez and Dr. Weisoly, With Nurse Cathy (she only loves him a little bit...ok A LOT!!!), and with miss Ashley and his buddies Ella, and Harrison.

At the reunion I was talking to Dr. Perez and Dr. Weisoly about his airway. They all have seen his case and know the condition of his airway. They kept talking about WHEN we get the surgery, not IF we get the surgery. It was really bothering me, but I trust these guys A LOT so I listened. Then Dr. Weisoly planted a BIG surprise on me. He told me that the Dr. in Cincinnati had been training a doctor over there for about 10 years and he just moved to the Dallas Children's hospital!!!!!! Talk about a miracle! He said that if Carter's surgery was "normal" he would absolutely have this guy do it and not worry about heading out to Cincinnati. After hearing that I knew or at least was more prepared to get the news about possible surgery.

 I took this pic in the OR waiting room. He definitely has some good skin!

 He did so much better coming out of sedation this time.

He sure was a tired boy and was pretty much only happy in Mommy's arm, which I was more than ok with. Other than needing oxygen for a couple hours after the procedure he did great. Dr. Rohn was so great to let us go home instead of staying the night which was awesome.

Trav and I had a hard couple of hours dealing with the reality of his possibly having to get a pretty intense surgery. It didn't last long though thankfully. That night while saying my prayers I broke down and was overcome with an incredible sense of peace and understanding. Heavenly Father has blessed us with miracle on top of miracle time after time and one being the location of a new Doctor. Of course we are still praying that he doesn't have to have the surgery, but we know without a doubt that if he does everything will be just fine. Carter is a fighter and has an incredible spirit, one that we feel beyond blessed to have in our family.