Sunday, April 10, 2011

I Just Don't Understand -

Today, I will head back home and return to work tomorrow.  I went to visit Gibson for a few minutes to say good-bye.  It shouldn’t have been difficult to say good-bye to a person who has never spoken to me.  It shouldn’t be hard, he doesn’t know my name.  I have never made eye contact with Gibson and known for sure he was looking back at me.  So why the tears when I said good-bye for a couple of weeks. 

I have to say that 'love happens'.  It happens when two people are committed to a common cause and the common cause which binds Gibson and me is his struggle for survival.  I am his biggest fan.  He is my hero.  He stands for all things good in this world. He is the toughest and purest and cutest and gentlest of superheroes. I am in love with Gibson Jones and can’t wait until I see him again in a few long weeks.  

Gibson is doing well today.  He looks strong.  He pooped a few times today - one of them was a biggie, so I am told.  Garrett and Kaydi got to help clean up the tubes, and wires, and bedding and Gibson himself.  Quite a chore.  Remember from earlier posts that a portion of his intestine is sitting in a 'silo' outside of his abdomen.  The doctors will gradually decrease the size of the silo and force the intestine back into the abdomen and seal it off.  Gibson also started breaathing on his own today, which is not exactly a good thing.  He tends to fight the ventilator when he gets too involved, so they gave him a little sedative.  No one can wait until he loses the tubes.  It will, however, be a while.

No one is too optimistic about the growth of his left young - except all of us who are cheering for him.  There is some functionality and if it can grow some in the next two weeks . . . well that is what we are hoping for . . . that it will grow considerably in the next couple of weeks.  

Gibson has also started a round of anibiotics to make sure he doesn't have bugs in his sytem.

THIS JUST IN!!!
He looked me right in the eye and . . .

Garrett and Kaydi showed up just as I was leaving. They had suckers to eat while Gibson was getting his mouth mint-refreshed.  This is cute. 

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Family and Friends Day,

Gibson had a great day.  I think somehow he knew that this was a family day.  Between cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents, and parents I believe that 19 of Gibson’s relatives showed up today.  Most knew that they could only visit with Garrett and Kaydi. 

There was a surgery in the room where Gibson was staying so not even his parents could visit between noon and 5:00 or so. 

But before noon, Gibson was center stage.  He had a great night where he just rested, stabilized, and hung out with the nurses.  Garrett and Kaydi had a much needed full-night sleep and when they got to the hospital this morning to meet with doctors, they received only good news.  The team was going to take a slow approach to the weaning process.  The swelling in his cranium was gone.  His blood gases were stable. 


Then they combed his hair, cleaned his mouth with the mint swab, and changed his diaper – he pooped!  Just a little, but he pooped.  Throughout the afternoon, Garrett and Kaydi met with friends and family and they love and appreciate the support they have felt from everyone.  They feel overwhelmed and do not feel it is possible to repay the kindnesses they have felt. 

8:45 PM  This just in!! The left lung looks like it might be a little inflated in the last x-ray!! 

OOOH RAAH!!


This is a poem written by Kaydi’s sister – Karli. - This sums up so many feelings we are all having.  And Karli is just a puppy.  She is the same person who hit a home run, triple and two doubles in a softball game this week.  Do you still think she is just a dumb jock?

Miracle Baby

Green, brown, hazel, or blue,

What color of eyes did he choose for you?

Are they soft blue like your father's glazed over with hope,

Or dark brown like your mother's trying to cope?

We all knew of the struggles you would face coming into the world,

But you entered like a fighter who was strong and bold.

 I was the first to see you and as I watched you lay,

 I knew I have loved you forever though I just met you today.

How can something so small and weak,

Affect us all so much leaving tears on our cheek?

Maybe you were sent down to give a message to us all,

Through prayers, fasting, and uniting we may recall.

 It is not our decision who stays and who goes,

Rather someone on high when it comes to making the best choice, he knows.

Some say there are guardian angels who stand beside his bed,

Oh Lord, please let this be true and pour out blessings upon his head.

             - Karli Hobbs                            

Party for Gibson in Bennington

Friday, April 8, 2011

Steady and Focused

Long night, short day.  Remember that this is Grandpa Jones writing this blog and this will make more sense.  I have told dozens of football teams and basketball teams to try and keep an even course.  Don't get too high with the highs and don't get too lows with the lows.  Stay steady and focused.  I think I should listen to my own advice.  The last 24 hours have been quite the ride.  90 miles of gravel road as Lee Tremayne used to say. 

Everything went so well yesterday that Garrett and Kaydi took a nap in the afternoon and used some compllimentary tickets to the Jazz game in the evening.  It was the first date for a couple of weeks - at least.  When they got back to the  hospital following the game, Gibson was in a low.  His Oxygen had dipped far below acceptable levels and his Carbon Dioxide levels were out the roof.  The staff had tried to roll him to his side to make it easier to breathe - BACKFIRE!!!

It was not until 6:30 this morning that Gibson finally got back on track with his blood gases.  It took some bag-assisted breathing, some increase in ventilator flow, and some serious praying before he stabilized.  Then - a great day.  His saturation levels stabilized and then the fun started. 

Kaydi got to clean his mouth with a little pink, mint-flavored, bubblegum flavored, foam swab and  he likes that.  He opened his eyes; not the "I'm still dreaming, leave me alone" type of open eyes, but the real "I am liking this, keep it up,  eye opening."
Then her and Garrett got to change his diaper and rub his head (comb his hair). He grinned.  Not the "I've got gas" grin, but he "I'm liking this, don't stop" grin.

Like I was saying - The highs are Grand Teton high and the lows are Grand Canyon low.

Gibson got a new room today - again.  There was just too much going in the big room.  Every time an alarm went off, or a nurse giggled, or a baby cried Gibson's heart rate elevated.  Rather than try to control the giggling and the crying, Garrett and Kaydi asked for (demanded) a new room.  Of course after being awake for 30 hours, they got their way.  Not that they get crabby when they are tired, but most of you know Garrett and Kaydi and I would not want to say 'no' when they are sleep deprived.  Gibson also got new bedding today. That was a major chore with major teamwork.

Gibson is, at this moment, sleeping like a baby.  Steady and focused.

 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

The theme of today comes from the shuttle driver that drove Kelli to the motel last night from the hospital. Think of al the times we pass off to coincidence the many tender mercies we receive from God.  I like this. 

“Coincidence is God’s way of staying anonymous.”

1:30PM – Just hanging out at the hospital.  Garrett and Kaydi are on a date.  They are going to dinner together and then they are going to take a nap.  I know that doesn’t sound much like much of a date, but they were going to take in a matinee and neither of them felt like they could stay awake that long.  Obviously the stress is less.

Gibson today is doing well.  The nurses suctioned the mucous out of his lung and he didn’t like that too much.  They also moved him to a new room and he made no comments about the move.  He still has a window view, and that is all he really cared about anyway.  He made the move real well.  He had one of his IV’s removed – the one in his head, so he will look even better in photos.  But the big news is that when he opens his eyes he is not getting all stressed out – his blood pressure is remaining stable, and blood gases are not fluctuating.  The nurses, therefore, are lowering his meds and are continuing to lower the amount of assistance Gibson is getting from the ventilator. 

Because Gibson is not stressing as he receives more stimuli, Garrett and Kaydi have been able to touch him and kiss him.  He is returning the affection by squeezing their fingers.  Just one little miracle after another. 

Gibson did have an ultrasound on his heart today.  It is in good shape.  It is strong.  The opening that needs to close in newborns still isn’t closed all the way, but the physicians are not concerned.   He is scheduled to have a brain ultrasound of some type today, but that hasn’t happened yet. 

3:00 PM - Chris and I are still babysitting.  We got to go in while they changed and cleaned all of the sensors on his body.  Except for a group of three nurses who were reading the manual on how to hook him to one machine, these nurses are absolutely amazing; very knowledgeable, very focused, very professional.  I can’t say enough good things.  Also, we got to meet Dr. Null.  He is the head of this department.  Considering that Primary Children’s is one of the top 3 in the country, he must be the best in the country.  Considering that the USA is far ahead of the world, he must be the best in the world.  I am never washing my hand again - - - until I go see Gibson again.  

We also got to see them perform the ultrasound on his brain.  To me, it looks like Gibson will be a genius and a right-handed, 3-point shooter.  I could not see the screen too well, so I am not sure if he will be a wide receiver or a soccer player.  I suppose I could accept either.

Pretty Smooth Day

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Nice and smooth day today for Gibson and his parents. Almost every measurement and number is showing improvement. His color is beautiful.  They washed his hair and HIS HAIR HAS A CURL! Kaydi got to put vaseline on his lips. The little things are so important.  The nurses cleaned up his stitches where the ECMO tubes went in and Goibspn grabbed Garrett's finger.  It just doesn't get much better than this.

The only minor issue is that the fluid on Gibson's brain is not draining quite as well as it could.  They will monitor this over the next few days.  Lots of photos today because there is not much to write.  Notice that in the one with the window, the clouds seem to have eyes looking in on Gibson.  There is also a photo of the curl in his hair, and grandparents oggling over their grandson.

 

Look at these photos from Garrett's Camera!!

A Soft Request

For everything I have posted on this blog, I have had Garrett or Kaydi's permisson.  Not true with this post.  It looks like Garrett and Kaydi and Gibson will be here in Salt Lake City for quite some time - possibly 3 months.  For any one who would like to assist them financially during their stay, please send donation to Advantage Plus Credit Union, 177 North 4th Street in Montpelier, Idaho  83254.  If you would prefer to send help directly to Garrett and Kaydi, they are staying at c/o Ronald McDonald House, 935 East South Temple, Room 214, Salt lake City, Utah  84102.