Parker's Promise

It's funny how sometimes Heavenly Father answers our prayers in the most random ways. Tomorrow Parker is going into surgery to get a G tube. We have vacillated and prayed about it for quite a while if this is best. Then a couple of weeks ago he had two nights without IV fluids. The first was planned, the second was not. Both mornings he woke up very dehydrated. This showed us that yes, the G tube is very important. I finally felt at peace about it.

The other variable is whether or not they are going to do a fundoplication. That is where they do a procedure that makes it very difficult for the patient to throw up or have reflux. Parker had been throwing up a lot, but he is also protecting his airway, so we didn't know what to do. Then last Sunday we took him home on a pass. Just as I was putting him in the car to take him back to the hospital that evening, he threw up and aspirated a little bit. That has been one of our worries all along. What if he aspirates??? The fundo prevents aspiration, but it is somewhat permanent... So do we do it or not? How long will he have the g tube? How long will he keep throwing up?

After aspirating last week we thought for sure yes. Then this week he did not throw up at all. Did he grow out of it? He ate so well today and I was thinking back and forth again. (I appreciate wonderful nurses that day exactly what I need to hear.) Anyway, he ate an amazing dinner, was playing on the floor with toys and chewing his fingers. He keeps gagging himself and sure enough he gagged himself hard enough to throw up. And that was my answer. Yes. The fundo will be is right. Yes the fundo will give you piece of mind that he can't aspirate. Yes he will grow out of it and it will stretch. Yes he will be just fine.

That is my opinion. We will see what the surgeon decides tomorrow. He does a wonderful job and I trust his expertise and opinion.