Svea had to be strapped down for 51 minutes. Here she looks peaceful but for the last 35 minutes she cried so hard and was so sad. Hard on this mommy and Svea's Grandma!
She had an IV placed in her arm and she was cathed for her VCUG and Renogram. Here Svea is coughing in that way that babies do to be sure we are aware of their plea. Oh, Little Svea, I know!
Exhaustion had set in for both of us at this point. I had a vest on because the renogram exposed her to rather high levels of radition. Hopefully they won't have to repeat this particular test.
Svea has bilateral grade 4 vesicoureteral reflux which means her urine travels backwards, back up into the ureters and kidneys placing her at high risk for kidney infections. Basically, the valves that allow urine to flow one-way (down into her bladder) did not develop and are not functioning as they should. The level of severity is graded on a scale of 1-5 and Svea's is severe being a 4 on both sides. She will be on antibiotics for this first year and then we will return to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis to determine when she will have surgery to correct this problem. (There is a 4.5% chance she will outgrow it.) If she gets a fever we have to go to the ER and have her cathed to determine whether or not she has a kidney infection. So we are praying for good health for this baby and her sisters who have a hard time keeping their fingers out of her mouth, nose, eyes, etc! Svea is a charger, as my friend Renny says. And we are thankful to know what is wrong and what to do about it.
Poor little thing. And poor mama! I hate when they have to be strapped down like that. I'll be praying for you all.
ReplyDeleteWhat an ordeal! Here's sending good vibes for a healthy year. My little nephew Foster is dealing with a lot of the same things, but what hopeful news that she just might outgrow this! We'll keep praying for that outcome.
ReplyDeleteOur oldest son (6) also had reflux that was surgically fixed this summer. We had hoped he would grow out of it, but it held steady. We were told if they don't grow out of it by age 5, they probably won't. We know how difficult it is to watch your child have a VCUG. On Drew's 3rd annual VCUG our pediatrician prescribed a mild sedative, which made all the difference in the world. We were not aware of that option, so I thought I would pass it along. Also, going forward, there is a procedure similar to the VCUG called the Nuclear Cystogram that uses less radiation. The goal is to lower radiation exposure to the reproductive organs. I hope this info has been more helpful than overwhelming. Praying for no UTI's for Svea and for overall health.
ReplyDeleteErika and Lee Solomonson and family