Killian has been doing very well over the past few days. A couple days ago he was doing well enough with his breathing that the doctors decided to let him try it on his own without any aid. He did his best for two hours but then grew tired and had to be put back on the CPAP. He continued to do well after that so they shifted him to a smaller (and more comfortable) nasal cannula which you can see in the picture. He is already responsive to our voices when we are near his isolette and opens his eyes to look for us. Yesterday we witnessed his beautiful smile for the first time and he has flashed it numerous times since then...nothing like it!
He is a strong little lad. Today as I was holding him he decided he had enough with the position he was in, so he squirmed a little, then lifted up his head and turned to lay on his other cheek. Nina and I were both amazed.
The sad news is that Killian's echo test came back and he will need surgery on Thursday to close is the PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus). We had been hoping that the blood vessel would close on its own and he could continue to recover and grow stronger, but our Lord had planned otherwise. Killian will be put under general anesthesia and they will enter through his back to close the vessel near his heart. This is one of the most common operations among preemies and the surgery itself is not typically dangerous, but it will put him back at square one as far as his recovery goes. As I mentioned, he has been doing so well with his breathing, but he will be put on a ventilator just before the surgery begins and he will be on it for around two weeks. He will have to learn how to breathe again and build his lung strength back up. This morning he was taking 19ml of milk, but starting this afternoon he will be weaned off the milk and sustained with nutrients through his IV, and after the surgery it will be another gradual acclimation to receiving milk again. The toughest part of all this for us is seeing all the wonderful progress he has been making erased and starting back at the beginning again.
Please continue to pray for Killian, particularly on Thursday that all goes well and according to Our Lord's will.
Praying - thank you for keeping us updated.
ReplyDeleteHi Tim and Nina, You don't know me, but I am a friend of Kari Voit's and she has been keeping me updated on your little one. We too have spent many days in the nicu as our quints were born at 30 weeks. Our prayers are with you during this difficult yet amazing adventure. God is surely looking out for your family!! God Bless, Gina Whalen
ReplyDeleteTim and Nina,
ReplyDeleteMe and my family are praying for Killian and you guys. I understand how difficult this must be for you two but, be assured our Lord will take care of him and you no matter what. Pax vobis!
Prayers for you and Killian. I follow Patrick on his website...don't know you personally, but I unite with you in prayer for your baby.
ReplyDeleteMy prayers are with you.
ReplyDeletePraying for little Killian and for you...
ReplyDeleteOf our 6 kids, we had 2 premie sons, 6 wks early and 8 wks early. They did not need surgery, but we understand a lot of your concerns. We will keep your little Killian in our family prayers. We all depend on the Lord and receive his comfort through our struggles. May God bless you!
ReplyDeletePraying for your little man.
ReplyDeletePraying for Killian here in Ireland. - Blessings - Rene
ReplyDeleteI am sending my angel to keep Little Killian and his angel company. We have all-day Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament today, so I'll pray a Holy Hour for him as well. (By the way, I'm a former cardiovascular surgery nurse and this operation is one we did frequently.) I'm certain that Our Lady will be watching over her/your little child. May God bless you and keep you confident.
ReplyDeleteDear Timothy,
ReplyDeleteWe are praying for you and Killian. My son Stuart had that same surgery when he was a preemie, and you'd never know now that he ever struggled to breathe or beat his heart. God be with you.
Coleen Kelly Mast
Hi Timothy,
ReplyDeleteI heard of the surgery on Patrick Madrid's show today. Killian is certainly the subject of so many prayers from around the country and even the world.
For my tiny part, I have a cold of some sort and I'm offering it up, as long as it lasts, in union with the sacrifice of the Mass, for Killian's healing and for him to lead a holy life.
God bless you and your growing family!
Praying for Killian & you both!! He's such a precious little guy. Lives up to his name. MB from San Antonio
ReplyDeletePlease, please Lord have Mercy on this dear little baby boy and his parents that have been throught so much already.
ReplyDeleteAmen
Dear Tim, Nina and Killian,
ReplyDeleteFrom two other preemie parents to you all - you are in our thoughts every day, and at night we all pray for your little guy. He's darling! So happy he smiled at you!
I well remember our Sean's first smile - we called him our little drunken sailor, because he smiled with his eyes closed. He was our firstborn, too, 6 weeks early, and 2 lbs. 2oz. He narrowly missed the PDA and abdominal surgeries and a broviac, but when he was born, any blood they took, they tested and gave it right back to him!
I have asked him, now 24 and an OSU grad, to keep a special place in his heart for your beautiful son. May his Guardian Angel and all his ancestors in Heaven stand round his isolette (is that still what it's called?) and guard and strengthen him.
Here's a poem a dear friend sent us (Sean was born a week before Christmas). We taped it to his isolette, and took great comfort in the first two lines of the second stanza:
A star shining bright
in the still of the night.
A child sleeping sound
while the world spins around.
Angels are singing
and wise men are bringing
gifts biggest and best
to Earth's special guest.
To fill all men's dreams,
God goes to extremes
and in simple splendor
comes love from the Sender.
In this one place on earth
all are of equal worth.
Rich and poor find the treasure
of God's love without measure.
All our love and prayers,
Mark and Mary Helen Colleli and Family
Pray the Infant of Prague novena.
ReplyDelete