Day 70 - High CO2 and Possible Next Steps

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Morning:  Overnight, James had a calm evening. He did really well overall and sustained his FIO2 levels around 60 (which isn’t great, but it’s what James needs right now). James did gain some weight last night and is now 2300g or 5 pounds 1 ounce!  He’s a growing baby boy!!  However, his CO2 came back very high at 81.  This is concerning due to adding too much stress on his lungs. The only ways to release is to breathe out and urinate, but mainly exhale. This will just take time, and after 70 days, we know what patience feels like. 

After speaking with the doctor, he’s suggesting we see how James does during the next several days. If he doesn’t make improvements, James will be assigned to inhale with a NICU version of a nebulizer to breathe in a steroid. Depending on tat progress, we can try a final round of DART, the previous steroid that James was on twice.  After that, we will see the progress James is having.  If James stays “stuck” for 15-20 days, we may need to explore the Tracheostomy, which involves creating an opening in the neck in order to place a tube into a his windpipe. The tube is inserted through a cut in the neck below the vocal cords. This allows air to enter the lungs.  This, of course, is NOT our goal, but we will respond to whatever James needs in order to help his lungs develop. 

The doctor says that James’ lungs are on the severe chronic side of the spectrum and he is hoping that James can somehow make things happen on his own. “It just takes time.”  

The concern with too much time on the ventilator is hurting other developmental functions for James. So, we are doing our best to be patient and hurry up all at the same time. 

Needless to say, Mom and Dad are doing the best they can to be present with the NICU life.  Dad is attempting to transition back into his work for a few hours per day during the next few weeks, while Mom holds down the NICU fort holding James when she can, giving him a bath, pumping every 3-4 hours, cleaning bottles, doing skin to skin, checking temperatures, mouth swabs, and playing nurse when it’s asked of her.  Again, we are doing the best we can with what we know how to do. Mom and Dad are making a great team and supporting each other through the ups and downs daily. #StrongerTogether

Afternoon:  CO2 came back at 76, which went in the right direction, but is still high. Dad got to hold James today for 90 minutes!  It was such a nice bonding experience as Dad told James the story of “King James Weston and the Hidden Treasure”. (Fairly similar story to “The Alchemist” but he enjoyed it.). 

James received a bath so that he could get so fresh and so clean. He also likes to sleep soundly afterwards and he needs his rest. Baths are given on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Typically this is when we have our Primary nurse which is great!

P.S. You can email James your love and support as often as you’d like:  JamesWestonAbramowitz@gmail.com