Jun
27
    
Posted (Tina) in All Posts on June-27-2010

Well, a lot has happened since the prior post.

Last weekend, it just seemed like the diarrhea was never going to end. All of this continuing with feeding diluted formula (50/50). She is totally losing weight and you just know something isn’t right.

Josh and I decided to give her guts a break and only give Pedialyte on Monday, the day before her Upper GI. We just felt like she needed it. Then, I left a message with her GI doctor to give an update and push for getting an answer to this problem. I planned to touch base again while I was at the hospital, to see if I could get him to look at the images and let me know if he sees anything. Well based on Ella’s symptoms, the GI doc thought that maybe Ella should be admitted to the hospital on Monday when I called (I think that only giving Pedialyte concerned him). I compromised and agreed to touch base after the upper GI on Tuesday, to see if that would give us more answers. If it seemed like Ella needed to be admitted to the hospital, we could walk right over from radiology and make that happen.

So, Ella had her upper GI test last Tuesday. There were a few loops of bowel that looked distended to the radiologist, but no big deal in the opinion of her GI doctor. The main finding: her gastric emptying is good. This is great because we no longer have to take Reglan. But, it usually takes just under 2 hours for barium dye to travel through your small intestine and reach your colon. It took Ella’s system 4 hours. So her motility is definitely slow. Based on her history, we already knew this fact. It just confirmed that it has not changed since her recent surgery.

Unfortunately, this test did not give us any answers on why Ella continues to have diarrhea with mucus and blood on a frequent basis. We’ve still been spending lots of time with round the clock diaper changes, lots of baths and loads of laundry. Since the test did not give us any answers for why we might be seeing these symptoms, we reconvened with her GI doctor once the upper GI completed. First, he wanted to still admit her to the hospital. After we talked through all the info together, we came up with a plan that both of us felt good about executing.

The plan: Ella is being admitted to the hospital tomorrow (Monday, June 28th). Her GI doctor will be on service, meaning that he is the doctor on the GI team that rotates around and treats patients in the hospital with GI issues. Well that works perfect for us – it just makes it easier so we don’t have to re-explain everything. Plus, her pulmonologist has been on vacation. He is going to be back at the hospital tomorrow. It’s funny though – her pulmonologist called in to check on things while he was out. He heard about Ella coming tomorrow and started to put a bunch of things into place. First, he wants her admitted under the pulmonology service. Since Ella’s primary condition is pulmonary hypertension, the pulmonolgy team already knows Ella. They can manage her fluids. Once again, a comfort in not having to explain things over and over. They have all of her history, especially the pulmonology team.

While Ella is in-patient, her GI doctor wants to “scope” her. The procedure is scheduled for Tuesday, June 29th at 12 noon MST. This is where they take a camera and look at the lining of her intestine and colon. In order to do that, they have to put her under anesthesia. This is another reason that her pulmonoligst wants her under that team of care. He put the plan in place to make sure that there is a cardiac anesthesiologist (someone who is trained to watch her pulmonary hypertension more closely). Her pulmonologist is also trying to see if he can schedule a CT scan while Ella is out. This way she won’t move and he could get real good images of her lung tissue. Lastly, they want to do an echo. They want to see if the pressure gradient in her SVC is stable or getting worse than the echo she had in late May. So tonight, we’re packing for a trip to the hospital.

Josh had a great Father’s Day. We just hung out as a family and walked around Cherry Creek. Although Ella had a couple of explosions, it was still nice to be out.

Another outing: we had another CDH family contact us. We’ve been watching each other’s blogs for awhile. This family started reading our blog when they were pregnant and diagnosed with CDH. They were going to be visiting Denver and wanted to meet, so we decided to go to the zoo together. It was a great time visiting with them, sharing stories/experiences, and connecting in person with another CDH family.

It’s definitely summer and it has been nice to have friends over and take advantage of the grill. Just looking at my pictures makes me ready for this meal all over again!


As we’ve mentioned, Ella’s therapies in home through the Early Intervention program are going to end on her third birthday. This means no OT, PT or speech help. It just stinks because Ella really needs it. The only other way that she would get these services is under Medicaid. She has been approved for a Medicaid Waiver and has been on the wait list for 2+ years. The state of Colorado only services a certain number of families based on funds and then they just keep a wait list. So, the only other way to get Ella some help is via the school district. Even then, the school district is going to focus on educational needs, not necessarily the other developmental areas that Ella really needs help with right now (walking, eating, talking, etc.).

So, the Cherry Creek School District came out to evaluate Ella this past Thursday. The nurse collected all the info and got permission for medical disclosures from Ella’s doctor. The rest of the team evaluated her for developmental delays and goals for what it will take for Ella to progress toward being in a school setting. Fortunately, her current Early Intervention Case Manager plus two of Ella’s current therapists came to the meeting and pitched in with their professional opinions. Apparently, they take all this info back to a committee at the district in charge of the home bound schooling program to decide if she qualifies. I’m amazed that being on oxygen, tube feeds, tons of meds on a certain schedule, no ability to even talk or communicate does not qualify a child for limited education in a home setting. It has to be deemed medically necessary that she not be around children in a school setting, in order to be approved for the program. Preschool normally starts here on August 25th, so I’m thinking we may find out the week before. If she does qualify, they will tell us what that looks like. For example, it might even be just a Teacher’s Aide who comes to the house for 1 hour each week.

The biggest piece of news for the West Family: Josh got the full-time job he really wanted. On June 25th, it had been one year since he left his last job. His new job starts this Thursday, July 1st and is very excited about the opportunity. It will be good to have stable income and benefits for the family. Finally as of August 1st, no more COBRA. Although the new PPO insurance is expensive for all of us ($560/mo) and not as good of coverage, it is better than COBRA running out! It will be interesting to see how the policy truly plays out and what is covered and not covered. Only time will tell.

We praise God for Josh’s new job and trust that He has a plan for all that Ella is enduring. We pray for answers to her intestinal issues this week and a short hospital stay.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.



Dawn Franck on June 27th, 2010 at 11:53 pm #

Congrarulations on the job Josh!!!
I will be praying for Ella’s stay in the hospital to be short and productive. I hope they can find some solutions to her problems. I also hope the school district will step up and help you guys out.
Take care,
Dawn

Steve and Joan on June 28th, 2010 at 5:45 am #

Congratulations on the job!!Prayers for each of you during this stay in the hospital. Hugs Steve and Joan

Ellie on June 28th, 2010 at 5:55 am #

Great news about the job, and continued prayers for Ella

Loren Lizotte on June 28th, 2010 at 6:34 am #

Yay!!! congrats on the J O B Josh! It’s good to hear you guys are moving a long with this part of life. I have to pray for Ella, it is scary to think she has been having so much diarrhea. Tina your family is always in our thoughts and prayers.
God Bless

Elizabeth Norman on June 28th, 2010 at 6:44 am #

We are so happy for you, Josh and hope that your new job is the perfect one for you. Loved seeing your photos with your friends and was wondering how their little girl is doing. It’s 6:30 in the morning here, but seeing the photos of your food has made me really hungry. Continuing to keep Ella and you in our prayers for this next hospital visit.

nicole on June 28th, 2010 at 6:56 am #

Congrats on the job!!!
So awesome for you both.
We are so excited for your new opportunity. Can’t wait to hear how it goes. – Ella looks great!
Nicole, Mike and Bella

Kelli on June 28th, 2010 at 6:56 am #

Josh,
Congrats on landing the job you wanted! God is good! The photo of Ella napping on dads lap is just precious. It’s nice to see you enjoying the Denver weather. Prayers for a successful and short stay this week in the hospital.

Liz Nelson on June 28th, 2010 at 7:45 am #

It was great meeting you. Thank you for letting us meet Ella. She is an amazing little girl. She is so strong and brave. We are praying that the Doctors answer the GI issues. We are thinking of you this morning.
Love the pictures of Ella sleeping on Josh and Lola snoozing too. So cute! Your grilling looks so yummy!

Pat Hadden on June 28th, 2010 at 7:52 am #

Wonderful news about the job Josh. Times are tough all around. (And great job on the kabobs, guys.) Ella looks so grown up already. Our hopes for a productive hospital exam and some solutions for your pretty little girl.

Fran on June 28th, 2010 at 8:02 am #

Congrats on the new job Josh! I am happy for you and know it will work well.
Prayers for Ella, you, and Josh. And may the doctors and nurses care for Ella as needed.

Jim and Char Snyder-Jordan on June 28th, 2010 at 8:36 am #

Thank You for the update. We have been praying continually for a break in her condition. Love, Jim and Char

The Williams on June 28th, 2010 at 9:17 am #

Praise God,,,, Congrad’s Josh on the JOB… what a blessing! We are so happy for you all. I am so excited 🙂 as I know this job was something you were excited about… God is soooooooooo good! Love you all!

Julie's friend Lynn on June 28th, 2010 at 9:56 am #

so great about Josh’s job and your local hospital’s willingness to work with all the necessary medical units. Praying for you today (as always)!

Laura Marold on June 28th, 2010 at 1:20 pm #

Fantastic news on the new job! I’ve been thinking and praying for you all and this is just wonderful news(especially about the insurance coverage). I’m hoping the procedure for Ella will provide some insight for her doctors. Love, Laura M.

Merrilee Batchelor on June 29th, 2010 at 6:47 am #

Happy Happy pictures!
This is wonderful news, and hope it
continues for all of you now. With
Ella’s Birthday soon that new job will
come in handy to get the party on !!
Each Day have fun, life goes by
too fast.Love and Prayers from
Temecula

Kara on July 7th, 2010 at 8:08 am #

We pay that amount in insurance for just the girls and I. That doesn’t include Rob’s insurance through the district. Pisses me off to NO END!!!!! And we have a huge deductible. I HATE HEALTH INSURANCE!!!!!

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