Thoughts and Prayers needed

Good news and bad news this morning at rounds.  Good news first!  He is peeing off more fluid than they are giving him.  This is one requirement for surgery so he isn’t too swollen.  With all the fluid leaving his body the right lung has been able to inflate more than previously seen on ultra sounds! The doctors are pretty confident that he will be able to sustain himself once ECMO is turned off.  There was a minor setback however, to prevent the ECMO pump from clogging they have been giving Gibson blood thinners.  Because of all these blood thinners they have discovered that there is some blood leaking into his brain.  This can be very fatal. The doctors are now speeding up the process of getting Gibson off ECMO and letting him take over.  Once they can do this, surgery will be performed to repair his diaphragm and move the organs back to their proper locations.  The bleeding in the brain will stop once Gibons blood can start clotting.  They have started slowly taking down the pump flow on ECMO and letting his lungs take over.  Depending on his progress surgery will be performed sometime today, sooner than later.  This is all just a waiting game as they turn down the pump and let little Gibby take over.  Gibson, the Jones’ and the Surgeons need our thoughts and prayers today!!

9:35 – Just got a phone call from Garrett.  He and Kaydi just met with physicians and the doctors said that Gibson is doing well and they are starting to wean him off of the ECMO and prepare for surgery.  .  The blood near his brain had grown a little, but not enough to drain or shunt.  His urine rate is exceeding the input rate - a requirement for surgery.  The surgery should take place today.  The roller coaster is heading uphill.


11:00 – Chris and I arrived at the hospital and were met by Tyler and Stephanie. Ty came down to pick up his new (old) car.  When we got to the NICU, Garrett and Kaydi shared breakfast with us.  We had bran muffins, bananas, and orange juice – breakfast of champions.  Gibson is being taken off of ECMO and they decrease flow through the ECMO by 10% increments every half hour, then monitor his blood gases before lowering them again.  Gibson looks really good today.  He is very well-colored and his swelling is down so far that you can see his rib cage.  He looks like a newborn today. 

12:45 – Gibson is now on 60% of flow through ECMO.  They will lower it to 50% of flow and monitor gases and if he holds his own, they will likely decide to do the surgery.  This is a huge step. But Gibson is keeping his oxygen saturation numbers near 100% at all times.  He is ready.  Garrett and I went in and Garrett gave him a blessing.  He blessed Gibson with courage and strength and instead of blessing his body as a whole; he blessed each part of his body.   He blessed his blood that it would clot well.  He blessed his vessels that they would not bleed further into his cranium.  He blessed his lungs that might provide adequate oxygen.  He blessed his heart that it might be strong, etc.  Garrett blessed Gibson that they might be able to go home together.  Garrett is well-prepared to use his priesthood.  Did I already say that?

1:40 – This just in from Garrett! “Officially clamped. He’s holding oxygen great and blood pressure.  So far so good.  They will draw blood and check gases soon, then heart echocardiogram.”  No one can hope for better news than that.  The surgeons will decide whether to do the surgery today or tomorrow. 

1:57 – Text from Garrett!!  “Doing a trial run with ECMO clamped.  He’s doing great!  Ventilating very well, Blood pressure great too! Checking his heart soon then they’ll take him off ECMO completely.”  You cannot imagine the relief from everyone involved.  This is such a great hurdle.  We know that at any time, things could turn downhill, but for now – great relief. 

3:45 – Text from Garrett !! “Officially going off ECMO.  Surgeon is setting up (going on and off ECMO is considered a surgery).  The process takes 1-2 hours. Then it is all on Gibson. 

4:30 – Kaydi’s family has arrived from Idaho.  They got home, decided they didn’t want to be there and turned around.  Kellie got here about 1:00. Kurt got here about 4:00.  Grandma and Grandpa Rose are here. Darrell and Rhonda are on the road. Just heard from Chez and Julie – They are coming as well.  The whole fam damily again. 

The doctor still hasn't decided if they would do surgery to repair the diaphragm and return all the organs to their proper place tonight or tomorrow morning.  Garrett and Kaydi are nervous - dahhh!

6:30 - Garrett and Kaydi just left the room with Gibson.  Gibson is doing well and is totally off of ECMO.  His oxygen content is great, his ability to remove carbon dioxide is bothered because he can't exhale all the way. It is not a huge problem.  The repair surgery may happen tonight and may happen tomorrow.  We are still in the 'wait and see' mode.

 9:00 PM - Gibson is doing a great job.  All the grandparents got to see him before visiting hours were over and each of us said the same thing.  He looks good.  He looks like a little guy ready for surgery and the doctors agree.  The surgery will take place tomorrow.  No one is sure of the time but everyone, including Gibson is ready.