I attended a first aid class for work today. As the instructor is listing several incidents that could arise, I was keeping a talley in my head.
Infant CPR ... check, I've done that
Infant hemlich ... check
blood in stools ... check
seizures ... check
check
check check check
Man, having a child with a serious health condition really puts you in situatitons that most people don't have to deal with. It's simply a way of life for me and mine.
My middle child has Cystic Fibrosis. I could write all day about that, but I won't. I will say that the CF Foundation's researchers have made tremendous progress, one in particular that C is hugely benefiting from. In simple terms, they discovered that this little valve that pumps natural saline (or salt water) into our lungs to keep the silia moist and moving our mucous along, has a little niche in it and it doesn't work in CFers. No salt water is being pumped into the lungs and the silia (or is it cilia?) is getting squashed by the mucous, which isn't moving out and clogs up all the endrocine systems.
Fortunately researchers are working on fixing the niche in the valve, or replacing the valve with gene therapy. But while they are trying to figure that out, another guy mixed up a close solution of saline to what we naturally produce and tried just getting that down into the lungs with the nebulizer. My son (who's 10) has been on that treatment for little more than a month now and the results are astonishing. Within the first week he was out riding his bike for half an hour when before his lungs lasted maybe 5 minutes. That may seem like a little thing, but for us, it's huge.
To anyone who has ever donated a nickel or dime to the CF Foundation or taken part in the Great Strides Walk, you have my deepest heartfelt appreciation. If I could, I would come wash your car.
First Post. What now?
I like snooping around on other people's blogs and sites so much that I thought I would set up my own. Now that I am here I feel like a wall flower that came to the wrong party. I hate talking about myself. What was I thinking?
Let's try this: Seven things I would like to do before I die.
1. Travel. Any place. I want to see New Zealand, Scotland, China, Moroco, Montana, anywhere.
2. Get several novels published.
3. Swim with dolphins. I love dolphins. If I believed in reincarnation, I'd put in to come back as a dolphin. Because they are intelligent, get to live in the ocean, and are unafraid of sharks.
4. Go on a cruise with my family, all of my siblings and their kids, and my parents. We don't get together often enough and we always have a great silly time. I laugh ten pounds off at least.
5. Leave each of my kids independent, healthy, kind, and happy.
6. Stay up on the seat wake board longer than one minute.
7. Buy my husband a spanking new harley.
Let's try this: Seven things I would like to do before I die.
1. Travel. Any place. I want to see New Zealand, Scotland, China, Moroco, Montana, anywhere.
2. Get several novels published.
3. Swim with dolphins. I love dolphins. If I believed in reincarnation, I'd put in to come back as a dolphin. Because they are intelligent, get to live in the ocean, and are unafraid of sharks.
4. Go on a cruise with my family, all of my siblings and their kids, and my parents. We don't get together often enough and we always have a great silly time. I laugh ten pounds off at least.
5. Leave each of my kids independent, healthy, kind, and happy.
6. Stay up on the seat wake board longer than one minute.
7. Buy my husband a spanking new harley.
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