Update on Reuben

It's been a long week. Tuesday afternoon, the nurses noticed that Reuben's breathing was shallow and quick, and that his oxygen levels were low. He was already on an IV to keep his blood sugar up, so they added some oxygen and took some x-rays. They decided that he needed some treatment with a CPAP machine, to keep his lungs open for the oxygen to get into his blood, and they put him on antibiotics. They monitored him closely for the next 48 hours to watch his progress. It was hard on Tricia-she couldn't hold him or have him in the room, and he couldn't eat.

From Tuesday until Thursday he was on oxygen, antibiotics, CPAP treatment, and the dextrose IV in the ICU. We were able to go down to see him, but he couldn't leave, obviously. He slowly improved, and by Thursday, he was off the CPAP treatment, and mostly off oxygen. The antibiotic treatment went through last night, and he's still on the IV, although it's a very low dose and he could probably come off it any time.

He still struggles occasionally with his oxygen and breathing. Sometimes he comes out of it on his own after 30 seconds, but sometimes they put him back on oxygen to stabilize him. They've taken x-rays again this morning, and we're just waiting to see what the doctor says today. We were hoping to be able to bring him home, but we're not really sure right now.

Here are a few pictures, and I'll post another update as things move along.









Update: The pediatrician and respiratory therapist decided this afternoon to put Reuben back on oxygen all the time, and keep him in the ICU until Monday at least. He is off the dextrose IV, and has finished the antibiotic treatments. They'll monitor him and see how his breathing improves over the next 36 hours and then decide what to do.