Life as a Leach

D is for Drain Sponge and Developmental Delays Drain sponges are often used around the trach and the g-tube to soak up the excess moisture and gunk.  They are split so that they fit around it and stay put, which is rather convenient.  We never really used them around the trach because we didn't need to, but we did keep them around Abby's g-tube for a while until our GI said to just let the site breathe.  There's some argument as to the advantages and disadvantages of the drain sponges, but we don't use them too much. Unfortunately, developmental delays are very common when you have a young child with a trach--especially if he or she is vented.  The inconvenience of the tubing makes it difficult to do tummy time, which is so important during those early months!  For Abby, she was also kept on her back for the majority of the first three months of her life while she was hospitalized, so that didn't help things either.   Speech therapy is also extremel...

C is for C atheter, C lorox Wipes, and C ranial Band A catheter is a common medical term, but the specific one I'm talking about is the suction catheter.  This is used to suck out the gunk that builds up in a trach that people without lung problems can just cough up on their own.  Suction catheters are individually wrapped in sterile packaging, only to be touched with a clean gloved hand (and minimally, even then!)  The catheter is connected to the suction tubing and the suction machine is turned on.  The size of the trach determines how far you go down with the suction catheter.  Going down too far could result in bleeding or permanent trauma to the trachea.  Don't do it!!  Because Abby is so little, we only go down 4 cm when we suction.  As you bring the catheter back up, you create suction by putting your thumb over the little hole and suck up the gunk.  (Lovely, isn't it?)  I should buy stock in Clorox wipes , because ...

B is for B ronchoscopy and B reath Rate A bronchoscopy (bron-KOS-ko-pee) is a procedure used to look inside the lungs' airways. The airways carry air from the trachea, or windpipe, to the lungs.  During the procedure, the doctor passes a thin, flexible tube called a bronchoscope through the person's nose (or sometimes their mouth), down their throat, and into their airways. The bronchoscope has a light and small camera that allow the doctor to see the windpipe and airways and take pictures.  Abby had a bronchoscopy done when he had her trach placed, and will be having another one while under anesthesia for her cleft palate surgery so that our ENT can see how her airway is growing.  Bronchoscopies are pretty typical for trach kids. The breath rate refers to the number of breaths a person takes in a minute.  Below is a list of the average breath rates for different age groups. Average Respiratory Rates By Age: Newbo...

A is for A pnea monitor, A mbu bag, and A lcohol prep pads An apnea monitor is used to make sure the child is breathing properly.  It will detect shallow or the absence of breaths and alarm after a determined amount of time without breath movement.  The monitor leads are usually held in place either with a band that velcros around the child or stickers that stay on the child's chest.  Children who have a trach usually need to be monitored for apnea while they are sleeping.  Sometimes, a sleep study is done in a hospital setting to make sure the child isn't having any apnea before the doctor discontinues using the home monitor.  We're hoping to get Abby in for a sleep study fairly soon so that she can get rid of the apnea monitor.  While it's a great machine in theory, it is hard to keep the band tight around her.  The leads get loose and the machine beeps louder than you could ever imagine.  Plus, the added "accessories" make her hot whil...

In Caleb's preschool class, each week is a different letter of the alphabet.  They start at A, go all the way to Z, and then start over again.  Each kid is supposed to bring in two items a week (one for each day of class) that start with the letter of the week. As we were discussing what Caleb should bring for A, I jokingly said he should take in the apnea monitor.  Matt and I then joked that we could find medical equipment for every letter of the alphabet and really give those kids in his class an education! Out of that sprung an idea that I really would create an alphabet book blog series!  A lot of it is related to trachs and vents, but some are more on the special needs side of things.  I usually have several words for each letter, and my plan is to write a more detailed description beneath each word.  Who knows, maybe this will turn into a real book someday!  Regardless, I think it will be fun and a good way to teach others some of the m...