***UPDATE ON KENNEDY*** KENNEDY IS GOING HOME!!! 3rd JOURNAL

[bctripletmom]

From www.caringbridge.org/visit/kennedybell

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010 1:46 PM, CST

We have great news, we are going home! The bad news is we will have to come back in a couple of months.  The biopsy test came back and Kennedy has Intralobar Pulmonary Sequestration.  It is a congenital condition.  She will have to have surgery to remove part or all of her left lung.  She is going home on antibiotics and will continue to take them until the surgery.  When the infection and inflamation are gone she will have the surgery.  We go to the pulminologist and the infectious disease doctor in 3 weeks.  We also go to the surgeon in 4 weeks.  So, the journey continues.  We praise God for holding us in his arms through this.  We ask everyone to contnue to pray for our little one.  In the meantime we will continue to prayerfully seek God's dirction.  We are going to take Kennedy home, our family will be reunited and we are very grateful to God for all he has done.  

We will keep you posted.

Love,

Jeff, Kathy and girls 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010 11:58 AM, CST

The infectious disease doctor thought that Kennedy's rash might be related to a reaction to her antibiotics so she was taken off the two antibiotics she had been on for the past two weeks. Last night she started on the new anitbiotic that is totally unrelated to the first two. Her rash was almost gone by this morning. Test results came back that she has medicine resistant staph aureas or MRSA. She is back in isolation. We are waiting to hear from the infectious disease doctor in regards to the MRSA and a treatment plan. The surgeon came this morning and took out the chest tube. Yeah! Mommy started nursing Kennedy last night.  It will make the process much easier now that the chest tube is gone. As far as pain management, she has been responding well with Tylenol.  It seems as though she is more bothered by a dirty diaper than with pain. We are still awaiting test result from the biopsy. Please continue to pray for our family.

Love,
Jeff, Kathy and girls 

TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010 2:17 PM, CST

Please continue to pray for Kennedy as we go through the week. She has developed a rash all over her body. Originally it was thought to be a reaction to morphine but the surgeon seems to think it is her body trying to fight the infection. We are waiting on test results from the biopsy of her lung. They are also testing her for cystic fibrosis. The results from her tissue culture came back as staph aureas. She has been off of oxygen since last night and her stats are stable. We are continuing to trust God for her complete recovery.  

From my sister's CaringBridge post:

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010 5:37 PM, CST

The mass that was putting pressure on Kennedy's lung turned out to be a collection of fluid that had built up due to what amounts to be a very bad case of pneumonia. They have drained the area and while there was the makings of some tissue loss from the fluid's effects on the lung, the surgeon saw a very pink and healthy lung. The official pathology report will come in a few days but all signs point toward no congenital defect! She will continue to be on antibiotics for pneumonia. A full recovery is expected. Kennedy required blood after surgery. We would encourage those who are able to donate blood to do so in honor of her. Please pray that Kennedy will improve as the days progress. Thank you for the prayers.

Love,

Jeff, Kathy and girls 

Friday, February 26, 2010 3:48 PM, CST

Kennedy had her flexible bronchoscopy this morning. The pulmonologist said that the inside of her lungs looked normal through the scope. He told us that he suspects the left lung is fully developed but that it is being squooshed by whatever the mass is in her chest. This afternoon we talked with the surgeon. He said all tests they have done have come up inconclusive on a diagnosis but clearly there is an abnormality filling the left side of her chest cavity. The surgeon also said it is still possible that it could be a congentinal lung disease. The next step in diagnosis will be to perform a thoracoscopy on Monday morning. Based upon the findings the surgeon may have to make a larger incision to remove any infection/mass/disease on the lung. This also could potentially include removing the entire left lung. We are continuing to take things day by day and allow God to be in control.Please be in agreement with us in praying that when Monday is here there will be no need to remove any portion of the lung. Also pray for the other girls as they are missing their Mommy and sister. We are so grateful for all the support, prayers and outpouring of love everyone has shown us.

Love,
Jeff, Kathy & girls
 

Thursday, February 25, 2010 4:16 PM, CST

Kennedy had her CT scan last night. The pulmonologist met with us today and went over the results. He said that they are still uncertain what is going on but he saw a mass on the left lung. She is scheduled for a flexible bronchoscopy tomorrow morning. The surgeon said this will need to be removed and most likely surgery will happen tomorrow. Please continue to pray for God's hand in Kennedy's situation.

Giving God the glory,
Jeff, Kathy and girls

 

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 11:07 AM, CST

God has performed a miracle!  God has healed Kennedy of her diaphragmatic hernia!  The surgeon said when he opened her up he was shocked to see that her diaphragm was perfectly fine. Praise God! He looked around in depth to see if there may have been some other explanation.  All he could tell the operating team was "We may have just witness a miracle".  The surgeon told us her "insides looked pristine". The surgeon and radiologist reviewed the X-rays taken on 2-14 and 2-17 as well as the sonogram taken on 2-14. The both agreed that X-rays showed a diaphragmatic hernia. This is the first time in 17 years where the surgeon has seen the hernia on x-ray, gone in to repair it and it not be there. Kennedy will be monitored over the next few days as she recovers from surgery. She will have a CT Scan later this week to see if any congentinal condition exists in her left lung. Please pray that her lungs will be clear and healthy. Thanks for all the prayers.


Giving God the glory,
Jeff, Kathy and girls

 

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kennedybell/journal

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 2:25 PM, CST

Kennedy is doing great today.  She is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow, Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m.  We have had a busy morning. There have been lots of doctors coming and going.  We have talked to the surgeon and if all goes as expected the surgery should be 45 min. to an hour  in legnth.  One of the doctors stated how strong Kennedy is and how it's amazing how far she has come.  Because of this she said Kennedy will recover from the surgery just fine, and she will have a story to tell.  We know for certain God has guided her thus far.  He will continue to keep her in his arms and carry her through to full recovery.  This will be part of her testimony as she grows older and comes to know Christ as her personal Savior.  What a testimony she will have to share! 

We ask for continued prayer as she crosses another bridge.  One that has to be crossed in order to heal and come home to her family which loves and misses her.

Love,

Jeff, Kathy and girls

Monday, February 22, 2010 1:42 PM, CST

The infectious disease Dr. just came by.  She said the RSV test was negative.  Praise God!  The Dr. will be contacting the surgeon to discuss the surgery.  She will get back to us as soon as she knows anything new.

Thank you for the prayers!

Love,

Jeff, Kathy and girls  

Monday, February 22, 2010 9:10 AM, CST

Kennedy's cough has worsened this morning.  They have put her back into isolation and are testing her for RSV.  The surgeons assistant came in and said as far as he knows they are still looking at surgery after the 14 days of antibiotics which would mean this Saturday.  If that is right, then the surgery wouldn't be until next week.  They are looking into starting a picc line.  We will continue to take it day by day.  We pray God will carry Kennedy through this and bring her home to the rest of her family.  We also pray for her sisters at home.  We know this is a difficult road for them. 

Thank you for the continued prayer and support.

Love,

Jeff, Kathy and girls

 

Sunday, February 21, 2010 6:19 PM, CST

Well, we made it our first week here at Cook Children's.  Kennedy is doing so much better than when we brought her in last Sunday.  We give God thanks for that.  She slept a lot last night through early this afternoon.  Her last two nursings went real good.  She has gained back her birth weight and weighs 7 pounds 8 ounces.  She had to have her IV re-done.  It is now in her left foot.  They are running out of places to put it.  We will be asking the doctor tomorrow about a picc line.  It will last longer than an IV.  When she has been awake today, she is very alert.  She looks all around.  She is gaining her strength back.  She smiled really big at mommy today and this time she was fully awake.  LOL! As we start the week, we ask for continued prayer for healing and for God to direct the doctors in their decisions.   

Love,

Jeff, Kathy and girls