Today I want to pray for Seton’s digestive system, mainly
his suck/swallow reflex. The doctors and nurses early on told us that he did
not swallow at all when they watch him under radiation. This has improved some
he can swallow some of his secretions. We see a speech therapist every week and
she works with him with a bottle of water or milk, he can swallow some of what
we squirt in his mouth but will not suck on the nipple at all. He has tried to
chew on the nipple, but that is not a frequent activity either. In order for us
to try to feed him any real amount by mouth, he has to pass a swallow study at
the hospital. If you want to know more about this study, I have attached an explanation
of a swallow study below from Childrens
Memorial Hospital
in Chicago , Illinois
Seton had a swallow study several months ago and he did not
pass, all he would do is push the food to the back of his mouth and then up his
nose, where we suctioned it out. He did not fit in the chair very well and it
was not at a good angle for him to even hold his head up.
As for the sucking ability, I only remember seeing him suck
on his pacifier twice. One time was the day after his g-tube surgery (when he
could not eat for 2 days) and the other time was early this past Wednesday morning
when I was trying to calm him down…he was screaming in pain from his top front
teeth that were trying to come in. Yes I did say teeth – he got his 2 front top
teeth this week (no bottom teeth yet but I don’t think they are far behind.
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| Sleeping away Wednesday night -- Notice his pacifier ;-) |
We have 2 friends whos kids also need prayer for their
digestive systems, Marley Kate and Brecken Layne. Please say an extra prayer
for these babies and their parents.
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| First walk of the season |
20 Now to him who is able to
do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work within us, 21 to
him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for
ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20 -21 (NIV)
- A swallow study is a procedure used to test children experiencing difficulties with feeding and/or swallowing.
- The swallow study is performed in the medical imaging department with a speech-language pathologist and a radiologist. Special equipment is used to provide a "moving x-ray" of the child's swallow.
- During the test, the child is placed in a chair next to the x-ray equipment. The speech-language pathologist feeds the child a variety of foods mixed with barium. The barium makes the food visible during the x-ray.
- The speech pathologist closely watches the x-ray to see how the food and drink move through the mouth and into the esophagus during drinking, chewing and swallowing and watches for any signs of aspiration (when the food or liquid goes "down the wrong way" into the airway).
- Once the test is complete, you will be given recommendations about feeding strategies and changes to your child's diet if needed to decrease the risk of choking or aspiration.
Shawna, I have been following your posts for many months now. I want to thank you for letting us see into Seton's life, so we can pray more specific. I am praying that God will use these 50 days to strengthen and encourage you, as God shows himself in Seton's progress.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 41:10
Debbie