ChloeWatts.com

June 10, 2011

It’s June 9th, late at night or early in the morning, and Chloe aspirated stomach acid into her lungs. The night nurse tried to get her to cough it up but nothing worked so Dana drove them to the Emergency Room at Emanuel Hospital. In-spite-of getting lost on a very familiar route, they arrived okay. The chest x-ray confirmed the aspiration.

Dana’s big job over the next couple days is to watch Chloe very closely to make sure this doesn’t develop into pneumonia. The antibiotics are available if the first signs develop. The night nurse agreed to take on Dana’s Friday night so that there are extra eyes on board, that are exhausted.

Chloe’s day today was uncomfortable at best. She is also very sad she couldn’t be at school for a play in which she was to perform. This probably parallels the first surgery, when she had to miss the last day of school and their party.

Her breathing is rattled and raspy. She also hasn’t been able to be fed. The doctors said to keep gravity working on our side for a while. I’m not sure of this response as I’d probably hang her from my inversion table if that were the case. She also can’t wear her breathing mask until things are settled. It’s a damned if you do damned if you don’t situation with that. The mask was probably the cause of the acid being forced into her lungs, yet she doesn’t breath on her own, on occasion, throughout the night.

We really need the swallow surgery to happen yesterday! That’s going to be the first step to getting things somewhat normal for her. Chloe has made so much progress over the past 30 months, however, this is one more example as to how fragile she really is. Dana knows better than anyone this fragility and has been the one able to sense just what she needs when she needs it. And she is unwavering in the face of coddling accusations and other judgments passed along. All in all though she Knows she is doing the right thing. THANK YOU Ma’Lady!