Wyatt James Koger, A Fighter from Birth: From ECMO to HOME.....

Thursday, March 13, 2008

From ECMO to HOME.....

Thursday afternoon update- Wyatt has come a long way... here are two pictures when he was only one week old and now at 5 months. Thank You!! We just gave Wyatt a bath. I got to use his suction machine (nothing really came out..it was just fun to use). We also gave him his neubulizer (the machine is not as good as the hospitals'), cleaned around his g-tube, put lotion all over his body, changed his pulse ox. We also cleaned out his mouth, put Vaseline on his lips, vented his tube, and filled up his feed bag. I feel like a nurse... it's fun!! He was so worn out he fell back to sleep... see the pictures below.

Hopkins PICU- October 2007
Wyatt's on ECMO before repair surgery... sedated and paralyzed

After G-tube surgery- Feb. 2008

Home in his crib sleeping soundly- March 13, 2008... our miracle.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...: Oh Gina..
If there ever was an *angel*....you and your family are so very blessed....look at that sweet, relaxed (because he's home) beautiful face!!! It is truly an amazing, incredible journey...hope you got alittle sleep last night....
Thanks for the update and the pictures.
Karen :); March 13, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Kristi said...: Gina,
I just wanted to congratulate you all! What an exciting time to finally have your baby in your home! Wyatt is such an inspiration and a miracle! Congratulations!
Kristi
(friend of the Miller's- Sophia Rose); March 13, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Congratulations! So 5 months and 4 days was the lucky coming home day! Exciting, thanks for the pictures. Will you be keeping the blog going?; March 13, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Gillian Brown said...: Hi there!!I'm so delighted you have eventualy got your little star home - he's georgous!!i see him watching his big sister Chloe and how nice it is for you all to be one big happy family.i too was crying reading your blog entry as it's so special to have your little fighter home at last!!Take care and enjoy your son.Gil and Family xx; March 13, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Anonymous said...: I AM A NURSE AT MT WASH AND WHEN I GOT MY ASSIGNMENT TODAY ROOM 2027 I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING WYATT, WELL WHEN I GET TO MY ROOM AND DO NOT SEE WYATT AND I GOT EVEN MORE EXCITED!! WYATT IS HOME!?!?
CONGRATULATIONS!! I KEEP CHECKING HIS BLOG, HE IS SO LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A WARM, CARING, AND LOVING FAMILY!
GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING!!; March 13, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Laura said...: Gina,
I am so very happy that Wyatt is finally home with his family where he belongs. I will continue to pray for him!; March 13, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Maria said...: Wyatt,
WELCOME HOME!!!!! As soon as Grace and Daniel heard you were home, they wanted to drive over right away. We are all so excited. I love the pic of you and your sister. Chloe looks like she is going to have lots of fun with you. Gina and Benji, we are so happy for you and will continue to pray for many great days ahead!
Congratulations!!
Maria, Joe, Grace and Daniel; March 13, 2008 at 8:33 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.