Pneumonia Baby

Sick with Pneumonia August 5, 2011

Anaya is having to struggle for each breath.   I am here in bed with her.  I'm about to give her the morning dose of antibiotics.  Her fever is still there.  She woke up and moaned, coughing up a huge phlegm ball that I sucked out of her mouth with the suction.  She's very weak.  She was only able to cough it up to the back of her tongue.  Lucky for me I know how to deep suction by putting the tube gently down her throat.  I've been sucking out gobs of white and yellow thick phlegm.  It's nasty.  Poor little love.  Her nose is congested too.  I've been rinsing it with saline and gently suctioning out her nostrils.

Yesterday I had a class early in the morning on mobile apps and then a session with Dr. Brownstein.  A well known and well liked Psychiatrist in town.  I told him my life story, he assessed me.  He diagnosed me with post traumatic stress disorder, and also another disorder related to abandonment, abuse and loss.  I went home directly after my session. 

 Nurse Mo Mo, who I last referred to as Maimo (Anaya likes Mo Mo better) was with Anaya at the house.  She was very concerned about her breathing and told me she had to give her a breath several times.  That she was really having a hard time.  I picked her up and she settled.  She needs her mama.  She settled against my heart, she heaved a little sigh and fell asleep.  I decided then and there that I needed to find a baby carrier big enough and supportive enough for her to be near my heart so that I can move around and tend to things while holding her.  We jumped in the van and went downtown to Mountain Baby. The store for good baby stuff in Nelson.  The owner, Judy, has long been a great supporter of Anaya's.

I found an Ergo Carrier with a special head and neck support that works great for Anaya.  We purchased it, with her in it...It is grey with stars on it.  We plan on finding rainbow colored patches to sew/iron onto it to make it more "Anaya-Like".  After that we walked quickly down Baker Street.  The main street in downtown Nelson.  It didn't last very long because Anaya's breathing continued to get worse.  I immediately got on the phone to Canuck Place children's hospice as they always have doctors available to ask questions to immediately.

I asked what I should do.  They said they would consult our team about it and call back.  In the meantime we got Anaya home to the house and lay her down in the bed.  It was extremely hot in the house. I called Brent and asked him to go get a small air conditioner from WalMart.  They were on sale...he came back and installed it ASAP.  The room began to cool.  Canuck place called me back and told me that Anaya needed to be assessed by a doctor to see if she needed end of life care and transfer to the hospice.  They suggested that I take her up to Emergency at the hospital.  

Anaya had just fallen asleep and was actually breathing a bit better in her sleep.  I loathed the thought of moving her and dragging her through the stress of going to emergency where they would undoubtedly poke and prod her and ask millions of questions...then I had a thought!  I should call Dr. Kalia and ask him to come here and assess her.  So that's what I did.  I called his office, got through to him and asked him to come to our house to assess Anaya to see if she needed end of life care.  

"Of course" he said.  He arrived within twenty minutes. Leaning on the edge of the bed he listened to Anaya's lungs and heart. I told him about how I thought she had pneumonia last week and I had taken her to the hospital in Penticton - where I was told that she didn't have pneumonia and that she was likely dying from her disease progression.  He told me they were wrong.  Anaya has aspiration pneumonia.  He immediately ordered antibiotics and suggested we keep her home in bed.  He said she's better off here than in the hospital where she could catch another bug in her weak state.  He looked around at all of our equipment in the house and told us we have everything the hospital has. Suction, oxygen, a bed, a nurse, medicines.  He said we know her best, that we are the best ones to take care of her.

I thanked him for coming.  He said "Anytime."  He saw himself out.  He called Canuck Place and gave them a report...one less thing for me to do!  I stayed in the bedroom with Anaya all night.  Wiping her brow with a cold damp cloth, suctioning the phlegm from her mouth, massaging her arms, holding her hands, kissing her head, eyes and cheeks.

And I'm still here!  In the bedroom with Anaya.

Solara is here beside me too.  She asked why I am writing.  I explained to her that I write about what's going on...she said "why" I said...because it's like my journal, it's like the book of what life is like with Anaya.because people read it...She said "Oh" and jumped off and ran down the stairs to watch cartoons.

Anaya still sleeps.  She is so exhausted.  I took a short video of her breathing.  I love every breath she takes. Here it is.

Today the plan is to stay here in bed with Anaya.  I can try to organize a few things from my computer.  I'm hoping and praying that Anaya is going to stay strong and fight this bug.  So far things are looking good.  I had hoped to get out to try to sell bumper stickers and talk to people in town about the birthday party...but it looks like today is an at-home-love-the-baby day.  I'm going to try to rustle up so volunteers to help out.

The bumper stickers are pretty neat.  They have a QR code on them, when it is scanned with a smartphone QR reader it takes you directly to the website.  So anyone who sees the sticker can learn ALL about Anaya.  It looks like this.

I pay $2 each to have them printed locally here in Nelson.  Big Cranium Design gave us a deal on them.  I'm selling them for $5.  So three dollars from every sticker purchase goes towards Anaya's care and me staying home with Anaya.  Did you get one yet? Cheaper than a Starbucks Latte!

I will update you as the day progresses.
Thank you so much for sending your love and prayers to Anaya.  I can tell she's going to get better and we will enjoy the rest of the summer together and she'll get to have cake at her birthday party.

I don't have a nurse at the house today so if anyone wants to come over and help out or take Solara on a playdate it would be much appreciated.

Love,
Camara