My son's airway dilation last Wednesday

Tweet

In December 07 we found out that Keith's airway was 95+% blocked (by scar tissue). Basically NO airway whatsoever and it explained why he relied so heavily on his trach to breathe. In May of 2008, we were supposed to have MAJOR airway surgury to rebuild his airway, which would cause major health setbacks and possibly be life threatening due to possible infections. A few weeks before the surgury, this ENT doctor called me and asked me if I would consent to Keith having ballon airway dilations. He honestly did NOT think it would help Keith since he was SO blocked, but it was worth a chance and if it worked, it would make it so his invasive surgury, would be a little less invasive. I agreed to it. If it meant my boy might have a chance, and it would help him, by all means-- DO IT! We were also only supposed to have the balloon dilations done twice. And the doctor warned that if it DID open up the airway at all, it was a great chance that it would just close back up, leading us back to square one and all of these procedures would prove to be a waste of time. I took the chance. So, our first one was in May and he went from 95+% blocked to--- 70% blocked! Great news and the doc was very optimistic, but also warned that it again could just close back up, and he expected it to, really. The second dilation was on July 9th. Not only did the airway NOT close after the first procedure, the 2nd dilation made Keith 60% blocked, gaining 10% more! At that point the doctor said that he would do the balloon again. Initially we had only planned on 2, and usually most patients only ever get two-- but since it was working for Keith, they planned on doing it again. The doctor also said at that point that the airway reconstruction surgury was going to be less invasive even if we didn't gain any more space in it. WOW! Our third dilation was today. When the doc came out with the biggest smile on his face that I have ever seen him smile, I knew we had good news! He said that Keith is now 50% blocked. That's half an airway people! HALF! The doctor is going to do the balloon AGAIN in December and see if we can get a 40% blockage. He is almost sure it won't go any smaller than that. At this point the airway reconstruction will probably be in early Spring 09--- and the doctor said "not invasive at all--only one side". My boy can breathe!!! Kevin and I did witness a trach plug the other evening that would have been life threatening with his 'old' airway since NO air was coming out of trach--- but with the 60% blockage he had then, he was still managing to pass air thru his mouth/nose and did not turn blue. We almost didn't realize he was having a plug since it was so "not big dealish" We are hearing Keith make SOOO much noise lately! It gets louder and louder every time. We are trying to make him say words but the only thing he likes to say is "bow" or "baba" or something in Chinese that we can't understand. However, last night I SWEAR he said "momma" 3 times.. Kev heard it too, so I really think he said it! Then this morning at the hospital at surgury prep, I think i heard it again. The doctor said we should be able to hear him even MORE now! I'm hoping later when he is less groggy from the anesthesia and more himself, maybe I'll hear "momma" again?? For those that can stomach it, here are pictures from his dilations if you want to "see" his airway yourself :) Pre Dilation before ballooning and any stetching: 95+% blocked http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/alskjs/Keith%20Jr/52908presurg.jpg Dilation 1, 70% blocked http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/alskjs/Keith%20Jr/52908postsurg.jpg Dilation 2, no pics but he went to 60% blocked Dilation 3, 50% blocked http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/alskjs/Keith%20Jr/dilation4_9408.jpg