Slow Progress, But Progress Nonetheless

Hey everyone. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and staying in touch. Sophia wants to come home but we're still waiting on her lungs to function independently, among other things. She's off the ventilator but remains on the high flow nasal canula with 30% oxygen. The doctors have switched the fentynol (sedetive drug) to morphine in order to transition her dependency on drugs a bit more smoothly. The only need for the morphine is to ween Sophia from the high doses of sedatives so as to prevent strong withdrawals. It's sad, but yes, our daughter is addicted to narcotics.

In the pictures below you'll see Sophia's PICC (peripherally inserted centralized catheter) in the side of her head. The catheter replaces the peripheral IV inserted in the hand or foot and it runs from her scalp, down through her neck and to the right atrium of her heart. The tube sends nutritional fluids through her vein until Sophia is 100% on breast milk. Currently, the doctors are giving about half of Sophia's nutrition through breast milk, but even half of that is given by a feeding tube because Sophia is being stubborn with the bottle.

It has been nice being able to hold and feed our little girl lately. Granted, she's got a thousand tubes connected to her, but after 8 days of never hold our daughter, we'll take what we can get. On one hand these day-long visits to the hospital make it seem that we'll never bring Sophia home, but on the other hand we're definitely seeing progress. Just pick up the pace, Sophia!! God bless.