Sick Kids

Today's visit to Sick Kids turned out a little different than we anticipated. James went in as an outpatient, and is currently an in-patient. He picked up a mild fever, and de-SAT-ed into the low 80's as the morning progressed. This warranted Sick Kids to admit him to hospital, realizing that he was in no shape for a ride back home. However, the lung specialists had seen different cases of PAP before, and could unequivocally declare that James had PAP, and a lung biopsy was not required. She laid out two treatment plans. The first is "simply" inhaling a vapour which will cause the excessive surfactant to metabolize, or dissolve. The 2nd is to do a complete lung lavage. Although she has done complete lung lavages, and has all the equipment and skills to do so again, she admitted that this has never been done on a child James' age. Any complete lung lavage is a risky procedure, threatening the lung to collapse. The younger the patient, the greater the risk. So James needs to be on this vapour 2 times a day for 15 minute intervals, after which a week should show signs of improvement. If he shows improvement on this treatment plan, we may qualify to have a Government coverage for this expensive treatement, and we can treat him at home. As an in-patient, this is covered. We begin treatment on that note, crossing bridges as we encounter them. Whatever is in store for us, we are grateful that James is in gifted hands. Even though this brings on new trials of being further from home, our primary concern is get James onto the road of recovery. As much as we depend on the abilities of Doctors to help James, we must remind ourselves not to boast in "chariots or horses," but only in the LORD. (Psalm 20). Indeed, our help is in His Name. And that by Grace.