SamBeller.org
Welcome to Sam's New Web Site! We will continue to add more news and neat stuff, but in the meantime there's lots to check out--including recent photos of Sam, the full archive of journal entries dating back to 2000 when the site originally launched, and links to resources for families with special-needs children. You can also send a message using the contact page, submit comments on your favorite entries, and join the e-mail list to be notified of special Sam news!
Saturday, September 30, 2000
Sam Still Battling Pneumonia
Although Sam came home from the hospital all smiles, a few days later he was struggling to breath again and required a lot of Oxygen. After trying to manage things at home during the week, we realized on Thursday night that something was really wrong. Sam was zoning out and acting strang.
Sam was breathing about 60 breathes per minute - short, unproductive breathes. The BIPAP machine he uses at night is normally triggered by his inhalation and then delivers air pressure to inflate his lungs more with each breath. He wasn’t breathing in strong enough to trigger the BIPAP machine. We changed some BIPAP settings and he did a little better.
In the morning, we took him to see Doctors Silver and Mandujano (Ped. Pulmonologists). They sent us to get an x-ray, which showed pneumonia in his left lower lobe (was left upper lobe last week).
They scheduled a Broncoscope for 4:30 where they use a cathetor with a camera and light and go down into the lungs (via the trach) and look around (like the Magic School Bus show!) and suck out all the nasty stuff in his lungs. It’s very effective to just clear his lungs all at one time. Kelly was there and watched the entire procedure. Sam was given narcotics (easier on him than general anesthesia) to get rid of pain and also space him out so he would’t remember it). He was quite comfortable through the entire thing. It was amazing. Sam was tired after the procedure - but in good spirits.
Now we wait to see what the culture shows so they can use a specific IV antibiotic for what ever bad-boy is brewing in there. For now, the Infectious Disease specialist was brought in on the case to order some antibiotics that we’ve never heard of. Although, we still think it’s just a bacterial infection - not virus or disease.
We ask for prayers for Sam…
- whatever is in his lungs is treatable and is completely resolved
- Sam will be strong enough to cough stuff up during this illness and after
- wisdom for Mom & Dad as we go through more of the medical maze and sometimes feel like we’re just overwhelmed with how unpredicible Sam’s health is.
- Tevah, Jacob and Simone to not be stressed as we are again split between the hospital and home (many different caregivers makes life complicated for them).
We just want Sam to be well and healthy so that he can be in school and able to enjoy the nice weather and any fun stuff that comes his way.
Much thanks & love,
David & Kelly
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