OK, what a weird title, but what does it mean? Well it means that today Alicia will have her first mini surgery, no, not on the heart mind you. Today the doctors will be removing her nasal-gastric tube and will insert a Gastric Tube, surgically, directly to her stomach. You might think it sounds serious but it actually is a good thing. Lately Alicia is vomiting a lot and if she does that three to four times a day she will not have enough energy to keep her parents “busy” nor will she grow or get enough nutrients. Having her feeds go directly to her stomach will help her to absorb the food faster and cause less vomiting. Another good think is that we can connect this tube to a machine that will automatically feed her at night and we no longer have to watch a gravity pump drip for 40 minutes. On a lighter side, the best thing about the G Tube is that it wont be in her nose anymore and she can avoid such questions as “Is that a breathing tube”, or “Is it some sort of an antenna” and my favorite, “Is it a cable that you plug in to charge the battery in her pace maker” J We and other parents on the unit, with similar conditions have heard it all. And “no” she does not have a pace maker. Alicia is doing fine, she still has good times and bad times, but she is OK.
Emily on the other hand is being thrown from one relative to another and honestly she misses mommy and daddy. I must tell you that as a 2 and a half year old she puts up with a lot and understands a lot as well. She knows that mommy is in the hospital with Alicia, she also knows that Alicia has a sick heart and can’t be alone. I really want to thank those of you who took care of Emily in the past two weeks (and fed her chocolates and cookies L) while her babysitter was on vacation. Also thanks to all of you who offered to help out with Emily and don’t be surprised if one day Kathy and I will want to get away from it all and go to the movies and your phone will ring with one of us asking you to come over and be with the kids. That’s enough for today. To be honest, it feels good to throw your thoughts out on paper (well in this case on the screen)
Take care, and remember an NG Tube is a feeding tube not a cable that recharges anything. LOL J
Mirek and Kathy.

