On The Road Again

Olá!

After being transferred from Unitas to Morningside Medi-Clinic yesterday by ambulance, I’m back in my familiar surroundings of Morningside’s Neonatal Unit. Again my appreciation must go to Dr Chris, Joy and Cedric of Netcare911 for taking such good care of me en route back to Morningside. This time Dad snuck onto the ambulance; but his presence was soon discovered and his participation required as he was helping with the on-board inverter and getting all my equipment plugged in to move it off battery power onto the ambulance’s inverter. Additionally, although the ambulance was equipped with two GPS devices, Dad took on the role of chief navigator as the ambulance negotiated its way back to Morningside. Once at Morningside, Dad again led the way to the NICU clearing a path and getting the elevators for the gurney. The Netcare911 chaps were really grateful for this, as they were not familiar with the hospital layout. Once in NICU, Dad still did not relinquish his role of supporting as he helped move me and attach the syringe pumps in their correct places. Once I was settled in, he was finally thrown out of the NICU as my vitals were stabilised. My Daddy rocks!!

Morningside NICU felt like a homecoming as all the nurses greeted me, my Mom and Dad by first name! As an added bonus I got to be examined by my heroine again, Dr Hay. She was so impressed by my progress that she decided to give the instruction to extubate me today. So early this morning, she arrived and together with the nurses’ help, I was taken off the ventilator. Needless to say there was much consternation around the room as all waited to see if my little lungs and heart would take-up the role they were designed for. And wow, did they perform! With great cheers and jubilations around the NICU I began to breath on my own, and have being doing so for the past few hours.

To boot, I’ve also been taken off many of my meds, such as the morphine, lasix and dobutrex. The morphine was used for my pain management, as having undergone such a major procedure, I was a tad sore. The lasix is a diuretic which ensured the continued effective functioning of my kidneys subsequent to the large amounts of contrast that were pumped into me for the procedure. Lastly, the dobutrex was to stabilise my blood pressure. The meds that I’m still on are neonatalyte (to keep me hydrated) and albusol 20% for protein.

In terms of feeding, I’m still making use of a tube, and it is this factor that will determine when I’ll be allowed to come home. Once I can feed on my own I’ll be kept in NICU for a day or so of observations, and then Mom and Dad can final take me home. I’m not sure when that will be – as it could take a few days to two weeks. As excited as I am to finally come home, I also don’t want to rush things for fear of jeopardising my health.

Will chat soon.

Love,

Jarrod

Figure 1 Here’s me in Pead-ICU at Unitas; this is quite an important pic of me as I’ve got a dummy in my mouth indicating my growing stronger

Figure 2 The mobile incubator to take me back to Morningside Medi-Clinic

Figure 3 Here are Dr Chris and Joy prepping me for my journey

Figure 4 After about 20mins of disconnecting and reconnecting me, I’m in the mobile incubator

Figure 5 Here’s me in the ambulance

Figure 6 Heading down the N1 with Joy at the helm

Figure 7 Google Earth view of the location of Jarrod’s window at Morningside Neonatal ICU

Figure 8 Google Earth view of the location of Jarrod’s window at Unitas PICU

Tags: Dad, Mom, Morningside Medi-Clinic, NNICU