Hunter was born with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). He spent 3 days in the NICU at Holland Hospital and 2 weeks at DeVos Childrens Hospital. RDS is sometimes called hyaline membrane disease.
Babies with RDS lack a chemical mixture called surfactant, which keeps the small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Treatment with surfactant helps affected babies breathe more easily. March Dimes funded the research to make surfactant treatments possible for Hunter .Hunter also receive a treatment called C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure). The air may be delivered through small tubes in the baby's nose, or through a tube that has been inserted into his windpipe. As with surfactant treatment, C-PAP helps keep small air sacs from collapsing. C-PAP helps your baby breathe, but does not breathe for him.
Hunter was put on a ventilator for the first 2 days at DeVos. A ventilator (also called a respirator) is a mechanical breathing machine that delivers warmed and humidified air to a baby's lungs. The sickest babies receive mechanical ventilation, meaning that the ventilator temporarily breathes for them while their lungs recover. The air is delivered to the baby's lungs through an endotracheal tube (a small plastic tube that is inserted through a baby's nose or mouth down into the windpipe). The amount of oxygen, air pressure and number of breaths per minute can be regulated to meet each baby's needs. Hunter was also Jaundice.Babies with jaundice have a yellowish color to their skin and eyes. Jaundice occurs when the liver is too immature or sick to remove a waste product called bilirubin from the blood. Bilirubin is formed when old red blood cells break down. Hunter's jaundice was treated by placing him under bibilights for 10 days.Hunter is now a healthy and happy little boy thanks to all of his Doctors, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, and the March of Dimes. Please help us give back!
Babies with RDS lack a chemical mixture called surfactant, which keeps the small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Treatment with surfactant helps affected babies breathe more easily. March Dimes funded the research to make surfactant treatments possible for Hunter .Hunter also receive a treatment called C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure). The air may be delivered through small tubes in the baby's nose, or through a tube that has been inserted into his windpipe. As with surfactant treatment, C-PAP helps keep small air sacs from collapsing. C-PAP helps your baby breathe, but does not breathe for him.
Hunter was put on a ventilator for the first 2 days at DeVos. A ventilator (also called a respirator) is a mechanical breathing machine that delivers warmed and humidified air to a baby's lungs. The sickest babies receive mechanical ventilation, meaning that the ventilator temporarily breathes for them while their lungs recover. The air is delivered to the baby's lungs through an endotracheal tube (a small plastic tube that is inserted through a baby's nose or mouth down into the windpipe). The amount of oxygen, air pressure and number of breaths per minute can be regulated to meet each baby's needs. Hunter was also Jaundice.Babies with jaundice have a yellowish color to their skin and eyes. Jaundice occurs when the liver is too immature or sick to remove a waste product called bilirubin from the blood. Bilirubin is formed when old red blood cells break down. Hunter's jaundice was treated by placing him under bibilights for 10 days.Hunter is now a healthy and happy little boy thanks to all of his Doctors, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, and the March of Dimes. Please help us give back!
Oh, wow... poor little Hunter! Was he a preemie? I'm so glad it all had a happy ending. What a great cause!
ReplyDeleteThe boys and i Donated some money to your march of dimes fund. We are pround to sponser that strong little man you have :O)
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