Iatrogenic artifact

Our hopes of breezing through this visit to the ICU have been squashed today by the appearance of yet another unlikely post-op complication. Last night I noticed some sandy brown liquid accumulating in one of Ford's drainage tubes and asked the nurse if it might be lymphatic fluid. He assured us that it was just plasma separating from the blood and we went home "happy". But this morning it looked a little worse, more milky in colour, and the nurse confirmed my gloomy suspicion that it was chylothorax.

We knew it was something that could happen, but we were all crossing our fingers that it wouldn't. At some point during the surgery Ford's thoracic lymph duct was accidentally cut. The fluid is now building up in his chest cavity putting undo pressure on his lungs and heart. The problem is that there is little they can do to stop it and so we will have to wait until it either clears up on its own (potentially months of living with drainage tubes and their risk for serious infection) or another surgery to go in an tie it off. When the tests came back positive they immediately switched his feeds to a high-protein, fat-free formula to somehow counter what is accumulating inside of him. We are really not sure why they have to do this and will try to find out tomorrow. But the formula is really bad for babies, who I guess need a lot of fat in their diet, and isn't recommended for more than a few weeks. So no more breast milk for Ford, whose weight will undoubtedly start to plunge again. Boo.

It's hard not to want to get angry at the surgeon. We felt that too after Ford's diaphragm was paralysed in Edmonton. The idea that they could just slip and accidentally cut something that compromises his recovery is incredibly frustrating. But it's good to keep in mind that Ford's heart is the size of a walnut right now, that the tubes they're cutting and suturing are barely mm's in diameter. You still have to respect their nimble hands.

Ford's heart is still being paced. This morning it looked like it was recovering a little but as the day wore on he slipped back into complete heart-block. Although funnily, anytime he was poked or repositioned, which seems to really distress him, his heart would kick in and start beating its own rhythm. There is still a lot of confidence that he will get over this and not require a permanent pacemaker.

Silver lining of the day: Ford was extubated to Bi-PAP, a variation of CPAP, which is a step in the right direction in terms of him breathing on his own. If you can recall our struggles with the CPAP experience in Edmonton you might remember that this was not the best thing as far as Ford was concerned. Its design was awkward and uncomfortable and he seemed really angry while wearing it. This version looks much more comfortable, but is rather strange to look at. It looks a bit like a cross between a fencing mask, a boxing mask, and diving gear. All we can really see of his face are his puffy eyes. Fortunately he is still heavily sedated and not in much of a state to struggle against it.

That's about it for the day. But to end on a more or less positive note. Christa and I have been googling Ford Riley this evening and discovering that our preciously unique name already exists! Curse this overpopulated planet!

C. Ford Riley - A horrible painter as far as we're concerned

Ford Riley - The man who decided the world needed more of "The Land Before Time," good god...

The Ford Riley - A CAR!? You've got to be kidding me. It was bad enough that his astrological sign is Taurus

Riley Ford - The guy who tried before but just got it all backwards