Day 17

Sunday 5/6

There is a group of people I have yet to thank on this blog, and today just so happens to be National Nurse Appreciation Day, so I want to dedicate this post to the amazing team of nurses at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

A little over three weeks ago Susan and I started this journey with a swift ambulance ride to the labor and delivery floor, and from that moment on, countless nurses have cared for Susan and Isabelle as if they were their own daughters. The consistent level of care from the antepartum, delivery and NICU staff has been impressive and the empathy and compassion they have shown Susan has made such a difference in our care and to this experience as a whole. I’ve come to realize Nursing is about much more than treating physical ailments; they see us at our most difficult moments and lend a sympathetic ear to ease our worries. They offer support when making difficult decisions and deal with constant questions from an inquisitive father, without the slightest sign of frustration. Susan’s delivery nurse has literally been kicked, pinched and bitten by mothers in labor but her commitment to Susan’s wellbeing that night will be something I admire forever.

As a quick aside, my mom is soon retiring after a long career in nursing and if I knew then what her job required I would have done my homework before she got home and would have asked Jono to not throw that boot through the oven door. Sorry Mom.

If one could acquire points for giving her father grey hair, Isabelle would be doing quite well in her early weeks of life. “Isabelle is fine… but.” Is how all doctors initiate a call with us and so it’s only fitting to start her status update with the phrase I’ve grown to dread. Isabelle is fine, but as soon as her pee protest faded into history, her gassy belly redeveloped. Isabelle had a long Friday night and on Saturday morning our Nurse called to let us know her feeding was suspended so they could administer IV fluids to reduce her distended belly. The likely cause is the CPAP because it pressurizes her lungs, but also pushes air to her belly, but Doctors are always worried about possible infection so a bloated belly is taken seriously.

To slightly complicate the diagnosis she also has a condition known as a PDA. But before I tell you what that is, just remember, Isabelle is fine, it sounds worse than it is. (or at least that is what the Nurses tell me)  Since birth, she has had a small heart murmur which the nurses can hear in the stethoscope. It is caused by a common condition called Patent Ductus Arteriousus; it basically means there is a small pathway in her heart where blood can bypass the lungs and miss out on the rich oxygen. I’d do a giant disservice to the healthcare industry if I tried to explain it more, so read here if you want to learn more about it. But remember our rule, no google! Just read the link and come back.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/Patent-Ductus-Arteriosus-PDA_UCM_307032_Article.jsp#.WvDBfKQvyM8

The PDA usually closes on its own, so Doctors aren’t too concerned about it. But part of Isabelle’s stomach and kidney troubles could be caused by the PDA, so doctors decided to tread it with medication to help close the duct. They will do a scan on Friday to see if the treatment is working.

By Saturday afternoon Isabelle was eating again and made a good recovery by Saturday night into Sunday morning. This was great news because Isabelle was visited by her Aunt Adrienne, and just Jeff for the first time. She loved their company and performed a new trick for Adrienne; Isabelle turned her head from left to right! Yeah, that’s right, I’m a proud father because my kid can turn her head.

Isabelle’s animal collection is also growing, she added a bunny and a dragon (who loves tacos), thanks Sarah, Adrienne, and Jeff! And they were upgraded to a window view! Look how happy they are.

Sorry for the long post, I’ll try to keep my thoughts brief next time. Toodles.