Pinky and The Brain

The doctors have identified that jovie's breathing problem is occurring due to a breakdown somewhere between the brain sending the msg to breathe, the nerves telling the muscles to breathe and the muscles performing the action to breathe. One of those 'sections' is failing at times, the challenge and difficulty is finding out which.

Today was a busy one, and I guess a positive one too. A heart and lung e.c.g ruled out any problems there, while an ultrasound of the diaphragm only highlighted the lack of activity during the periods where jovie offers no effort to breathe herself. This was accompanied by explanations from the docs as to the worst case scenario if this prob isn't fixed, which left us rather worried and upset for most of the morning. (No matter how many times we promise ourselves not to get upset by these conversations, it ain't getting any easier!)

We have promised good news tho and as with everything it comes in threes; they did increase her feed again today and they stopped the morphine she had been on for a day or two.

Best of all though today was the day of the all important MRI scan. Although not definitive this would be a clear indication of if it was the brain we needed to really worry about. Now its hard to explain the feeling you have in these scenarios, we know something is wrong with our little girl, and we are desperate to know what, but as much as you want an answer you also want all the tests to be clear. Well the MRI came back, and while not unblemished, it was clear in all the important areas and with no sign of worrying damage to the brain. A huge relief all round.

For all intensive purposes this rules out the brain at least for now and turns attention towards the nerves and the muscles. Tomorrow they are continuing the attempt to stimulate some more spontaneous breathing while also testing for damage to the nerves. One door closes...another slams in your face.

In other news today, jovie had a nice visit from the Wyse grandparents, Lorna only cried once, we had a welcome fit of giggles thanks to fonejacker in a waiting room and to send us home smiling at least a little, jovie opened her eyes as wide and as aware as we have seen so far.

While real optimism is hard in these situations, we have to try to make the most of the 'good' days.

"And what are we doing tomorrow? The same thing we do every night..."