A Little More Info...

This is for those who'd like a little more info on the last two weeks in the hospital!  Jonathan started showing some of the classic signs of a shunt malfunction or infection.  A malfunction would have been much easier, as it's into surgery and out of the hospital the next day.  The infection means that we have to knock out the infection and then wait for so many days of antibiotics and "clean" labs before the surgeon can replace the old shunt.  This is a matter of pure logic--so that the new shunt will not get infected also!

When there is an infection in the shunt, the bottom part (that drains into the abdomen) is pulled out of Jonathan's body and drains into a bag beside his bed.  This is great because it drains a lot of the infection out as well, rather than letting it circulate in his body.  However, lots of the good things that Jonathan needs for health also drain right out of his body.  Plus, you add the powerful antibiotics into his system and Jonathan was just thrown for a loop.  He was fighting infection, in his cerebreal spinal fluid, nauseas from all the medicines, anemic and weak.  Poor baby!

All of the tests were to make sure there was nothing else going on in his body, because the presentation of his shunt infection was very atypical.  I don't like the word atypical.  I don't like head scratching and puzzling over test results.  And I don't like the doctor telling me that he has no idea why the shunt got infected so late in the game.  But, all of these things are out of my control!!

Two days off the antibiotics and our Jonathan is a different baby.  He's smiling and talking and eating and begging to be held.  It's so good to see.  So, tomorrow the new shunt goes in.  We will watch to see how his body responds.  I do hope that his body takes to the shunt quickly and accepts it.  And our "six month clock" starts all over again.  We pray he stays infection free.  Two weeks are critical; two months are critical; six months are great!!  We shall see...