Update on Shelby

[weekycat]

Hi Everyone,

I posted a while back about Shelby's surgery being a success, and it was. It just seems things aren't going as well as expected in the recovery dept.

It seems that during her surgery, her thoracic duct was nicked, and she has developed a chylo-thorax. I had never heard of this, but because of this problem, she can't have any fat in her diet so they won't let my sister breastfeed her for a few weeks. This is really hard on Shelby, (not to mention her mother, Connie). http://www.amershamhealth.com/medcyclopaedia/Volume V 1/CHYLOTHORAX.asp

She's being fed mostly through a feeding tube, as they can't get her to take a bottle, especially with the yucky fat-free formula.

Also, Connie is a single mom with 4 other children, who live 2 hours away from the hospital. She's been staying in the hospital with Shelby, and the other kids have been staying down there at Ronald McDonald house on the weekends, and coming down to visit with Shelby's dad now and then. Her oldest is 17 and the youngest at home is almost 7. That's a lot of responsibility for the oldest.

I'm praying that Shelby will be well enough to go home soon, my sister is about at her wit's end, and not getting any sleep there at the hospital doesn't help. So, keep them in your prayers too, ok?

 

[Ross]

Wow that's tough. I do wish them all well soon. I'll certainly say a few more prayers.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Jean,

Sorry to hear about the complications for Shelby. Request granted- they are all on my prayer list.

 

[weekycat]

Wow, you guys are quick!

Wow, you guys are quick!

Ross posted two minutes after I did, and Betty a minute later!

You guys are great! I talked to Connie on the phone today, and I could hear little Shelby whimpering in the background, and my sister trying her best to soothe her. She feels like the only thing that would make her feel better is to nurse, and that Shelby is mad at her for not doing so. I'm going down to see them tomorrow, I don't know if it will help, but I guess it won't hurt.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Jean,
Sorry to hear about all the problems. Hopefully everything will turn out OK. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care

Dave
_______________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[Karlynn]

Jean,
Little Shelby, as well as the rest of you, certainly will get my prayers. My daughter is also a "Shelby", so I remember your little Shelby all the time. Keep us posted.

Karlynn

 

[Scottie]

Hey Jean

Hey Jean

just wanted you to know that Shelby and your sister and her family are in my thoughts and prayers. I'm sorry to hear that Shelby is having such a hard time. I hope things get better soon.
Take care
Scottie

 

[hensylee]

Aw, no, Jean. Little babies are so sad when they are sick and this one is so special. This has to be so heartbreaking to you all.
I am so sorry to hear this setback. Please know you are in my prayers. Love, Ann

 

[Creed3]

Jean,
I am so sorry to hear about Shelby's setback. Shelby, your sister and the whole family are definately in my thoughts and prayers. This has to be so very hard on everyone. That little angel is so precious, hopefully things will get better soon.

Take Care!
Gail

 

[Nancy]

Jean-

I am so sorry to hear of Shelby's setback. I'm hoping that things will clear up very soon.

She will be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Georgia]

Jean, I'm praying for and thinking of little Shelby and your sister and her whole family. It's such a strain for the whole family to have such a thing happen to a child, especially when they're so young and teeny.

They're all very lucky to have a wonderful sister/aunt like you to support them and help where you can. I always wished I'd had a sister, and you're the kind of sister who made me feel deprived.

Best wishes and bless you all.

P.S. Hope you're feeling better and your energy is returning.

 

[weekycat]

Shelby seemed happier today

Shelby seemed happier today

I went down to see Shelby at the U today, and she seemed in pretty good spirtits. She almost smiled once or twice even. I brought her a couple of new toys and she was mildly amused.
She is a little leary though, of anyone who walks in the room, since some of them like to inflict pain on her.

No one is sure exactly how long she will need to stay in the hospital, her surgeon says she will remove her chest tubes as soon as they are dry for 2 or 3 days (the drainage has to do with that chylothorax thing I posted about above), but then she will need to keep being fed the fat-free formula, which she hates, so she is currently being fed through a feeding tube.

Her cardio would like to keep the tubes in for 4 weeks post-op, to avoid having to put them back in, and then he would have her on half formula and half breast milk.

Anyway, as long as she still has the tubes in, the only way she can be transported to a hospital closer to home, (she's now about 2 hours away), is to go by ambulance. I guess my brother told my mother today, that he was going to work on trying to raise the money it would take to transport her, which is about $2000, as the insurance will not pay for it unless it is medically necessary, (and I don't think they'll consider the mental health of my sister).

Btw, I told Shelby that her scar looks MUCH better than mine .

 

[Karlynn]

Jean,
Please tell your sister that we will continue to keep all of them in our prayers. Thank you for the update.

Karlynn

 

[Guest]

Jean,

As Karlynn wrote, please be sure your sister knows that we are praying for Shelby and your family.

Reading your descriptions, I can only imagine what was going through my parents' minds when I was young and in the hospital before and after open heart surgery.

Aye.

Peace...always,
Cort S, pig's valve & pacemaker-enhanced 30/swm
AIM=fc72mc ... YIM=knightfan2691
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[HFK]

Hi ,
so sorry to hear of the complications, I hope this turns around quickly. It's really hard ,please know my thoughts are with you and your family. hfk