Today Haleigh and I unfortunately learned that, and I quote the nurse, "even if everything in the universe goes perfectly well, Sophia will be in the hospital at least 8 more days for weaning the morphine alone." I could have punched through a brick wall... We were so shocked. We had the impression that the medical staff all felt Sophia would be released soon. It seems that hospitals operate differently, so while Johns Hopkins main campus was perhaps more aggressive in Sohpia's weaning, Bayview Hospital (also owned by Johns Hopkins) has a more established procedure. We learned that Bayview actually specializes in the Baltimore region's babies who are born addicted to drugs. It is rather painful to see Sophia be weaned by the same nurses who are caring for babies whose mothers were doing drugs during their pregnancy. Even so, we are aware that we did everything we could as far as prenatal care is concerned, and Sophia is only addicted to narcotics because they were necessary to sedate her for the ventilator's breathing support.
On a more positive note, the doctors removed the high flow nasal canula today and so far we have not had to replace it. Sophia's (she's beautiful, by the way) saturations have remained stable for the past 10 hours even with no breathing or oxygen support. Thank God for this. So the two big concerns are weening her off the morphine and also increasing her feeding intake. Both, it seems, will take a lot longer than we expected.
Our assigned social worker could not be more helpful. She reminds me of my mother (now referred to as Nana Dee) and has helped us out with a free parking pass and official letter to my chain of command. For that matter, we are very comfortable with with all of the doctors, some of whom we actually met at the critical NICU on the main campus.
I don't know how Ashlie and Brad did this. And even still they are helping Bradie fight illness and slow growth. Trey Sutton and his whole family... how? A hospital is not a home, and we can't wait to get Sophia to where she belongs.
I'm so happy Sophia has been making such positive progress! Hang in there! Eight days does sound like such a long time, but she'll be home before you know it! The pictures you put up are absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to meet her! I'm so happy you can finally hold her, I'm sure the wait was torture. Let us know if you need anything!
ReplyDelete~Sarah (& Curtis and the boys)
Keep your heads up! God is on your side and so are we!!! Love y'all lots!!!
ReplyDeleteThe McCarty's
I love the new pictures. She is so pretty! Keep hanging in there. I pray that she makes a speedy recovery and you get to take her home soon. Love, Rene' and the boys.
ReplyDeleteTim & Haleigh, we know you are so disappointed. It is very evident that you guys are already awesome parents. Hang in there! Everything happens in God's time. Your beautiful little Sophia will be home before you know it. We love you all!
ReplyDeleteGod has his hands on this precious child. Isaiah 52:5 He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities;The chatisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. God is the great Physician!!! Lord we ask you to give Tim and Haleigh peace, strenghth and help them rest and no worries. Lord we ask you in the name of Jesus that you remove all kinds of medicine that Sophia has in her body and LOrd that she will eat the right nutritions from her mother. Lord that the days in the hospital will be shorter and that Tim and Haleigh will get to bring their gift you have given them. We ask and thank you Lord!!! Amen!!
ReplyDeleteStill praying for you all! So sorry to hear about Sophia staying in the hospital a bit longer, but God's timeline is always best. She is in His hands. Stay strong! She'll be home with you before you know it!
ReplyDelete