I've been googling "pleural effusions" since being home and found a helpful website. If you'd like to read more about this post-Fontan complication Maddie's had, here's the
link.
Her "almost clear" x-ray before the chest tube was pulled. You can see the tube to the left and the fluid that is there is at the base of the tube. The other hardware in her chest includes 4 coils (collaterals that were coiled off), 6 wires holding her sternum together, and 2 clips from previous surgeries (BT shunt & PDA ligation). Her heart is the in the center/right area of the x-ray.
Because of this pleural effusion (the effusion is all of the white on the left side of her chest) she wound up back in the hospital for 5 more days--totaling two weeks, which is what we had prepared for with the Fontan surgery. It was nice we had a short vacation at home in between stays!
She ended up with another chest tube placed, high up in the right intercostal space on the midaxillary line to drain the 600+ cc of fluid which had accumulated in the pleural space; the lining outside of her right lung which had collapsed because of the pressure from that fluid.
Maddie had the "go ahead" to roam freely with her chest tube drain. She loved the animals in the hospital, naming each one and we went to see them often. This is "Gaffy the Giraffy" outside of the elevators on the 5th floor.
We also went to the playroom and cafeteria several times. Our nurse would just give us a curfew on when we needed to be back for vitals or meds. It worked out great. Here she is holding up her painting on our way to the cafeteria for supper one night.
Having visitors really helped pass the time this hospital stay...here is Miss Maddie and cousin Kylie Rose enjoying a Barbie movie and chillin' in her bed before Maddie's chest tube was pulled.
We enjoyed a picnic Sunday afternoon with Daddy, Caden and Nany.We were in need of some sunshine!
Children's is a fantastic place but we hope to only return for routine appointments now...crossing our fingers that she won't be admitted anytime soon!
Dr. Meg Vernon (Maddie's other Cardiologist) Mommy and Maddie before the follow-up Fetal Echo on baby #4...we needed to follow up after 18 weeks because it's "standard practice" and our first ultrasound was too early to be sure that everything was ok heart wise. We love Meg and she holds such a special place in our hearts...she diagnosed Maddie's CHD and has been such a wonderful doctor, friend and support. Baby's heart looks perfect!!! 4 chambers, 4 valves, arteries all in the right places, this 'mystery baby' #4 has a healthy ticker! We're so thankful.
Maddie couldn't quite stay awake at mommy's appointment, so she curled right up on that hard chair and slept through it then slept another 2 1/2 hours on the way home. Staying in a hospital is exhausting!
Her "almost clear" x-ray before the chest tube was pulled. You can see the tube to the left and the fluid that is there is at the base of the tube. The other hardware in her chest includes 4 coils (collaterals that were coiled off), 6 wires holding her sternum together, and 2 clips from previous surgeries (BT shunt & PDA ligation). Her heart is the in the center/right area of the x-ray.
Because of this pleural effusion (the effusion is all of the white on the left side of her chest) she wound up back in the hospital for 5 more days--totaling two weeks, which is what we had prepared for with the Fontan surgery. It was nice we had a short vacation at home in between stays!
She ended up with another chest tube placed, high up in the right intercostal space on the midaxillary line to drain the 600+ cc of fluid which had accumulated in the pleural space; the lining outside of her right lung which had collapsed because of the pressure from that fluid.
Maddie had the "go ahead" to roam freely with her chest tube drain. She loved the animals in the hospital, naming each one and we went to see them often. This is "Gaffy the Giraffy" outside of the elevators on the 5th floor.
We also went to the playroom and cafeteria several times. Our nurse would just give us a curfew on when we needed to be back for vitals or meds. It worked out great. Here she is holding up her painting on our way to the cafeteria for supper one night.
Having visitors really helped pass the time this hospital stay...here is Miss Maddie and cousin Kylie Rose enjoying a Barbie movie and chillin' in her bed before Maddie's chest tube was pulled.
We enjoyed a picnic Sunday afternoon with Daddy, Caden and Nany.We were in need of some sunshine!
Children's is a fantastic place but we hope to only return for routine appointments now...crossing our fingers that she won't be admitted anytime soon!
Dr. Meg Vernon (Maddie's other Cardiologist) Mommy and Maddie before the follow-up Fetal Echo on baby #4...we needed to follow up after 18 weeks because it's "standard practice" and our first ultrasound was too early to be sure that everything was ok heart wise. We love Meg and she holds such a special place in our hearts...she diagnosed Maddie's CHD and has been such a wonderful doctor, friend and support. Baby's heart looks perfect!!! 4 chambers, 4 valves, arteries all in the right places, this 'mystery baby' #4 has a healthy ticker! We're so thankful.
Maddie couldn't quite stay awake at mommy's appointment, so she curled right up on that hard chair and slept through it then slept another 2 1/2 hours on the way home. Staying in a hospital is exhausting!
1 comment:
Anxious to hear what Seattle thinks of the latest Wenatchee x-rays. She sure looked great on Friday!! So happy to be home with her amazing family, and her trapeze artist, pool landing brothers!
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