Silas continues to recover well from his tracheostomy yesterday. After the first night of good sleep in weeks, he woke up early to start a long day of visits, tests, and discovery. He was able to slip his right arm out of his soft cast (called "no-nos"), although he thankfully didn't pull at his new trach tube. The nurse found him in the middle of night with his arm lying still next to the cast as if he was telling us that he is just humoring us by staying in the no-nos. (We hope he doesn't do it again or we may have to restrain his hands.) During the night his lungs began secreting fluid, which is normal, but whereas most people are able to cough it up or clear their throat, Silas's trach must be suctioned periodically to clear it for him. The noise and discomfort from the suctioning made him cry, but the trach also bypasses his vocal cords, so his cry is silent, which scares him a little for now. We assure him that we hear him cry even if he can't hear himself. We continue to stay with him and hold his hands all day long so that he knows he is not alone while he gets used to a new way to breathe.
We also had visitors today. Both Grandpas came to visit and be with him as he gets back to his normal, happy, peaceful, curious self. We even got to hold him and feed him. Before we could feed him he had to pass a test to be sure he was not aspirating any milk given to him by mouth. The occupational therapist dyed his milk blue and fed him a few ounces with a bottle. Afterward they suctioned his lungs to see if there was any blue fluid coming out. He passed, so he's been eagerly eating every few hours all afternoon.
Silas and his parents have a lot to learn about Silas's trach in the days ahead. It's not something any of us planned on learning, and we hope that soon our knowledge will be obsolete, but for now we are so grateful for each breath and the time it is giving Silas to heal and grow. Tonight he fell asleep with his new balloon in hand.
