Wyatt James Koger, A Fighter from Birth: ENT visit at Hopkins

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

ENT visit at Hopkins

Today we packed Wyatt up and traveled to Hopkins. Wyatt was so cute in the ambulance. He kept looking around with his big blue eyes... it was so cute, I wish I had a video camera! It's kinda funny because Wyatt sits on a stretcher in a car seat and we just wheel him in the main entrance of the Outpatient Building, go up in the elevator, and it's just like a normal doctor's appointment but we are escorted by 3 paramedics and a nurse! The ENT doctor, Dr. Brown, looked in Wyatt's throat by putting a scope down his nose. He said that the right vocal cord does not move and the left vocal cord is fine. If it will correct itself, it will be between 9-12 months. Usually getting a shunt will help but it all depends on how the nerve was damaged. If it was just bruised, it's likely to fix itself, if it is severed, then it's unlikely it will fix itself. The right vocal cord nerve travels from the ear to the brain to the chest. It could of been damaged by the ECMO cannules (I think that's the cause), intubation, head bleed, or surgery. Wyatt's body will just adapt and the left vocal cord will hopefully take over. Wyatt will probably have a hoarse, raspy, sexy voice as he starts to talk. He is already cooing and he was very talkative to Dr. Brown. We will return in 4 months for follow up. Wyatt's feeds were started back today when we returned from the ENT doctor and Benji spent the day with him. Wyatt enjoyed watching the snow today and sitting in his swing. Pictures will be coming soon. Since this blog started, many people contacted me that also have cdh babies. One of those babies live in Bulgaria, her name is Lili. Check out her blog http://sdbg.blogspot.com/ The experiences of having a cdh baby in Bulgaria seems to be a little different than having a cdh baby in America. Lili is home and is doing very well. We wish them the best. My parents left for Japan today for 10 days to visit my sister and her fiance because.... they are GETTING MARRIED on Sunday. It's one of two weddings. Check out her blog- http://wanderlustinjapan.blogspot.com/
Please pray for safe travels and congrats to my sis Danielle... I wish I could be there!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: But Gina, you ARE there...you are in their hearts!!! I know with your Mom you and Chloe and Wyatt are never more than a thought away...I know Danielle wishes her big Sis could be there too.
Wyatt better watch out...with a sexy, raspy voice he'll be getting dates in Kindergarten!!!! :)
Please be careful with the impending bad weather...
Sending love, hugs, and prayers...
Karen :); February 21, 2008 at 7:23 AM
Anonymous said...: Alright... Listen here! He may have a raspy and sexy little voice but Nanny says N O to dating! I tell Lily and Chloe and Molly that there will be no dating until they are 35. There is no double standard here! The rules apply to Mr. Wyatt. I don't care if I'm across the country! Nanny says no!
:-) :-) :-); February 21, 2008 at 6:19 PM

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Hurdles that I faced and achieved!

After birth, I was placed on ECMO at Johns Hopkins Hospital for 13 days. On day 13, I had a surgery to repair my hernia and was removed from ECMO, but my organs would not fit in my abdomen. I had a silo for a week and then surgery to place the organs back in the abdomen. Then, part of my intestines re-herniated into my chest cavity two months later and I had another surgery to repair that. After my first surgery, I experienced an intraventricular hemorrhage in my brain and at four months old I received a VP shunt. After I was extubated, I learned that I have right vocal cord paralysis. Then I had g-tube surgery and after I finally got to go home after 5 longs months at Johns Hopkins and Mt. Washington Hospital! Only for a few weeks, though. In mid-April my intestines reherniated again and sent me into surgery. I came home, and had a long run before my THIRD reherniation in the beginning of September on Labor Day weekend in 2008. Then I was hospitalized for twice during the winter 2009 for two respiratory infections. Well, I almost lasted a year until my next surgery! Just this past June, in 2009, I had surgery to wrap my stomach around the esophagus, a nissen. This has helped with my reflux and my hiatal hernia. I will be 2 in October, I love scooting around but refuse to stand up and walk. I am a little miracle and thank God, my doctors, my nurses, family, and friends for my strength, my fight and a happy life.