Slow going

Question: How is Maddie doing?
Answer: Shes hanging in there, but shes still very sick and has a long way to go.

NOt much change over the last few days.  We are still fighting against the chest fluids (Chylothorax).  We've seen some reduction in output over the last few days but not enough to really move forward.  Once the Chyle dries up and stays gone, the chest tubes will come out followed shortly after by extubation and feedings.  Once Maddie is breathing on her own and able to eat and gain weight, we can start thinking about coming home.  This could be in two weeks or two months - we have no idea what condition her digestive track is in and how she will tolerate real food.

Chylothorax is a complicated condition for a lot of reasons - more then I can get into right now.  But suffice it to say that no one really knows the best way to treat it in infants, all treatments are experimental and there is no such thing as a normal reaction or results to treatment.  The whole team is learning as we go.  At this point, we aren't sure if the reductions are due to the medication (octreotide) or time, but i'm fond of giving God the credit.

Luke and I move into the ROnald McDonald house tomorrow.  We are very excited.  it will be a much better place to have dillan come stay with us plus a huge costs savings.

Please continue to pray.