Good news, good news, and more good news!
Good news #1:
Beck did not throw up anymore and he did not have to go back into the hospital. He also did not lose as much weight as I thought from his stomach virus. Way to go little champ!
Good news #2:
Last week we attended an award ceremony for Methodist and Blank Childrens Hospitals. These hospitals received an award because of their success rate of families deciding to donate their loved ones organs (this was the same award that the University of Iowa received in January). To receive the award a hospital has to have a success rate above 75%. Nate was asked to speak at the ceremony. We love speaking at events like these so that we continually thank all those that saved Beck's life and honor the donor of his heart. The news came for this event and did a clip on Beckham. It was shown on the 5:00 PM news on Channel 13 (NBC). I have tried to find the clip on their website so that I can post it, but they must not have uploaded it. They are going to send us a DVD with the story. I will post it on the blog when it comes.
One really neat thing that happened at this ceremony was that we were able to meet a family who had tragically lost their child and made the unselfish decision to donate her organs. I have never talked to a family who donated the organs of their child before and this was...quite the experience(in a positive way)...to say the least. Both Nate and I were very emotional when we heard them talking during the ceremony and telling their daughter's story. The best part was talking to them after. I sat with the mother of the little girl and we both cried as she told me about her daughter and about why they decided to donate her organs. Their reason for donating was one that I had never thought about...and one that brought me more comfort than anything else has. She told me that when they lost her their hearts were so broken and they knew that if they donated her organs it would mean that other parents would not have to feel the same pain they were feeling. Isn't that incredible? I know how heart broken I was when I learned how sick Beck was and I never ever want someone else to feel that pain...but I did not lose him. I never had to feel that pain. He his here and healthy and happy. This is all because someone else made the unselfish decision to donate their child's organs. I am so grateful to have been able to talk to this family. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Good news #3:
We made it to Utah! Yeah! We are actually on a vacation...away from our home!
There may be a lack of posts while we are here. Thanks so much for all of your prayers while Beck was in the hospital last week.
-Kim, Nate, Gwen & Beck
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Update 7/6/08
Just a quick update to let you all know that Beckham is out of the hospital. He was released on Friday afternoon. When I picked Nate and him up at the hospital on Friday Beckham was all smiles. I was hoping that this meant that he was all better and no more vomiting. Not the case. A couple of hours after we brought him home he got really cuddly and quiet (not a good sign) and as soon as we tried to feed him something it all came back out. The next morning we tried again to feed him something and he vomited it everywhere. I called the transplant team and his pediatrician and a prescription of Zofran was called in for him. I was also given the instructions that if he continued to vomit then he would need to be readmitted to the hospital. So far today there has been no fireworks (meaning there has been no fireworks coming out of Beck's mouth). Lets hope and pray that it stays that way. At least we know that we are in good hands at the Blank Children's Hospital. While Beck was in the hospital he was actually placed in the PICU. He was not ICU status, but since Nate works there and they had room, Beckham was able to be cared for there. The staff in the PICU was so sweet and caring to him. They referred to him as "our Beckham." Thank you Blank PICU staff!
We'll continue to keep you all posted on any changes. As for now, we have decided to postpone our Utah trip by at least a week. Let's hope my tooth that needs a root canal will hold out that long.
-Kim, Nate, Gwen & Beckham
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Update 7/3/08
All that I can say is that when it rains...it pours!! This has definitely not been the best couple of weeks here in the Scadlock household.
First:
Last week the summer sick bug visited. It started with little Gwen spiking a fever and getting congested. It soon passed on to Nate, me, and unfortunately little Beck. Beckham actually seemed to handle this cold like a baby with a normal immune system...meaning that he spiked a fever for a couple of days, had nasty congestion, and seemed to improve by the third day. I was feeling so excited because he always takes at least 3 weeks to get over the smallest cold. Nate also developed a huge mouth sore. It was so bad that he could barely talk (it actually sounded so funny. He was so mad that I kept making fun of him). He had to give a presentation at work and had to try and talk through the whole thing like a normal person. What a trooper!
Second:
I went to the dentist on Monday to get a cavity filled (one of three that I have to get filled in the next two weeks). While drilling the tooth the dentist saw that the cavity spread all the way to the nerve and gave me two options to fix that and they were to either have the tooth pulled or get a root canal. I opted to get the root canal and was then told that Medicaid will not pay for a root canal on a back tooth, plus the tooth would also need a crown which Medicaid would also not cover (what the heck? Do they just expect us to have no back teeth?). I still opted to get the root canal and crown without insurance over getting the tooth pulled. The dentist then took my x-ray into the other dentist in the office and they both agreed that the cavity was so bad that I would need to go to a specialist. I have to get this done a.s.a.p because now that the tooth has been opened up I have developed an infection. I woke up the next morning feeling like I have the flu and I am in a lot of pain in my mouth.
Third and definitely not least:
At 2:00 AM on Wednesday morning I woke up to Beck crying. When I went into his room to check on him, I reached in his crib to grab his binki and found that it was soaked with vomit. I quickly picked him up and woke up Nate. Beckham continued to throw-up for a little while and I noticed that he had a fever. We debated on whether we should take him to ER or not. We opted to wait until morning and take him to his doctor first. Beck seemed to do better in the morning and took a bottle and later his meds. I still decided to take him to the doctor and right when I walked into the waiting room at the doctors office Beckham started vomiting everywhere. I did not know what to do because it was all over both of us and the floor. They quickly got us back to the doctor who sent us right to the ER. Beck was pretty dehydrated at this point and extremely lethargic. He was quickly given and IV at the ER (they got it in with only two pokes..that is a record) and fluids. He was admitted so they could watch him over night. He threw up a couple more times after that, but he was given Zofran to help stop it. I also woke up last night to check on Beck and there was blood everywhere because Beck had pulled his IV apart (the IV is on his head and he really hates it). I quickly called the nurse who fixed it right away. I stayed with him last night and most of today. It was so sad because he feels so sick and all he wants to do is cuddle. We thought that he might be doing a little better today and we gave him a little bit to eat. Nate and I ended up with what he ate all over us and he was given more Zofran and his IV was turned back on. Beck is going to stay at the hospital again tonight. Lets hope and pray that tomorrow Beck will be able to keep something down, start to feel better, and we will be able to go home and watch the fireworks...on TV or something:) Poor baby!
Wow, is all I can say. To look at the bright side, Beck's heart still looks great! What a relief!
Have a great 4th of July everyone. I have always loved this holiday and even if we have to spend it at the hospital we will at least be able to spend it as a family.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support.
Much love,
-Kim, Nate, Gwen & Beck
P.S - We are thinking that we will have to postpone our Utah trip for a couple of weeks. For those that we are coming to see...we still want to see you...just a little later. We have to all be healthy first!
First:
Last week the summer sick bug visited. It started with little Gwen spiking a fever and getting congested. It soon passed on to Nate, me, and unfortunately little Beck. Beckham actually seemed to handle this cold like a baby with a normal immune system...meaning that he spiked a fever for a couple of days, had nasty congestion, and seemed to improve by the third day. I was feeling so excited because he always takes at least 3 weeks to get over the smallest cold. Nate also developed a huge mouth sore. It was so bad that he could barely talk (it actually sounded so funny. He was so mad that I kept making fun of him). He had to give a presentation at work and had to try and talk through the whole thing like a normal person. What a trooper!
Second:
I went to the dentist on Monday to get a cavity filled (one of three that I have to get filled in the next two weeks). While drilling the tooth the dentist saw that the cavity spread all the way to the nerve and gave me two options to fix that and they were to either have the tooth pulled or get a root canal. I opted to get the root canal and was then told that Medicaid will not pay for a root canal on a back tooth, plus the tooth would also need a crown which Medicaid would also not cover (what the heck? Do they just expect us to have no back teeth?). I still opted to get the root canal and crown without insurance over getting the tooth pulled. The dentist then took my x-ray into the other dentist in the office and they both agreed that the cavity was so bad that I would need to go to a specialist. I have to get this done a.s.a.p because now that the tooth has been opened up I have developed an infection. I woke up the next morning feeling like I have the flu and I am in a lot of pain in my mouth.
Third and definitely not least:
At 2:00 AM on Wednesday morning I woke up to Beck crying. When I went into his room to check on him, I reached in his crib to grab his binki and found that it was soaked with vomit. I quickly picked him up and woke up Nate. Beckham continued to throw-up for a little while and I noticed that he had a fever. We debated on whether we should take him to ER or not. We opted to wait until morning and take him to his doctor first. Beck seemed to do better in the morning and took a bottle and later his meds. I still decided to take him to the doctor and right when I walked into the waiting room at the doctors office Beckham started vomiting everywhere. I did not know what to do because it was all over both of us and the floor. They quickly got us back to the doctor who sent us right to the ER. Beck was pretty dehydrated at this point and extremely lethargic. He was quickly given and IV at the ER (they got it in with only two pokes..that is a record) and fluids. He was admitted so they could watch him over night. He threw up a couple more times after that, but he was given Zofran to help stop it. I also woke up last night to check on Beck and there was blood everywhere because Beck had pulled his IV apart (the IV is on his head and he really hates it). I quickly called the nurse who fixed it right away. I stayed with him last night and most of today. It was so sad because he feels so sick and all he wants to do is cuddle. We thought that he might be doing a little better today and we gave him a little bit to eat. Nate and I ended up with what he ate all over us and he was given more Zofran and his IV was turned back on. Beck is going to stay at the hospital again tonight. Lets hope and pray that tomorrow Beck will be able to keep something down, start to feel better, and we will be able to go home and watch the fireworks...on TV or something:) Poor baby!
Wow, is all I can say. To look at the bright side, Beck's heart still looks great! What a relief!
Have a great 4th of July everyone. I have always loved this holiday and even if we have to spend it at the hospital we will at least be able to spend it as a family.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support.
Much love,
-Kim, Nate, Gwen & Beck
P.S - We are thinking that we will have to postpone our Utah trip for a couple of weeks. For those that we are coming to see...we still want to see you...just a little later. We have to all be healthy first!
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