Last night Victor moved to the pediatric general floor from the Intermediate/Acute Care Unit. He was able to start eating his regular diet, and they removed the Nasal feeding tube. He has been so hungry!
This morning he has started a pH monitoring test, to detect reflux problems. The tech inserted a small tube down Victor's nose into his esophagus. This sensor is connected to a Sleuth Reflux Detective monitor, which collects data on pH levels. It has buttons that you press when your child is eating, sleeping, choking, gagging or coughing. Victor did not like the insertion (of course), but has not minded the additional tube in his nose (he already has the nasal oxygen tube). He is such a good boy! Most children his age or younger have to have their hands in mitts, so they won't pull it out--but Victor is so tolerant and laid back that it does not bother him. What a blessing! He will have this test for 24 hours. They are also doing swabs of his mouth before and after eating during this testing period, to see if he has pepsin in his mouth, which is a protein that is found in gastric juice. The pepsin sampling is part of a study that is being conducted my the Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry here at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Victor's oxygen has been turned down, and he is now just needing it while he sleeps. I am hopeful that he will be able to go home tomorrow afternoon, if he no longer needs supplemental oxygen. We will all be so happy to be together at home!
