Mason's Pulmonary (Lung) Appointment

I know I have written about Mason and his 1 1/2 lungs. He ended up with 1 full lung and then 1/2 a lung after his Diaphram repair. One of the complications he faced while he was a baby (and one of the ones that almost killed him) was Pulmonary Hypertension. Usually, older people who smoke or have this and for them it gets worse. Pulmonary Hypertension is when the CO2 can't get out of your lungs. Mason had that. To treat it, he was on oxygen for a year 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and then on oxygen until he was almost 3 when he took naps and when he was sleeping. So, one of the doctors Mason has had to go see the most was Dr. Bonnie Ramsay in the Pulmonary Department of Seattle Childrens Hospital. She has been amazing, and has always been cautious when treating and figuring out treatment plans for him. In the past, we have had to go in for ECHO Cardiograms, 2 times a year, to look at his lungs and heart. Mason had some heart damage on his heart from his stomach pushing up against his heart when I was pregnant with him and until he had his surgery. The heart damage repaired itself within 1-2 years. This time however, she had him do a blowing test, to test his lung function.

This machine he blew into was hooked up to a computer monitor, and the monitor showed a bowling ball with pins. As he blew into this thing, the ball moved when he blew. The Respiratory Therapist put this nose pinching thing to plug his nose, so he wouldn't blow in, out, or through his nose. She then told him to breathe 2 small breaths and then a big one. He did and blew all of the pins down on the computer.

Mason watched what he was doing and really got into it. After round 1 of this test, she gave him an Inhaled steriod, something we are no strangers too. He then did the test again, and his numbers went up significantly. The prognosis: Reactive Airway Disease or Asthma. Are we shocked? No. Given his history. When he gets a cold, he wheezes. Then I give him Breathing Treatments with steroids, and if it's really bad, he gets to take an oral steriod in a syrup form. I know steriods have been getting a bad wrap from professional athletes. In Mason's case, they open up his bronchial tubes and help him breathe easier. I didn't know he had Asthma all the time, it certainly hasn't slowed him down any...at ALL. The side effect from the steriods-it makes him hyper and more active than his usual active self. Oh, and, he gets angry and mad. FUN!! We go back in 6 weeks for another test to see where his numbers are, to see if there is more improvement.

Oh, and he had to get another picture taken with Mickey Mouse......again. When we go to Childrens, I am reminded of how lucky we are to have such an amazing Hospital in "our backyard". I am so grateful to all of the Doctors, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists, Dieticians, X-Ray Technicans, Ultra Sound Techs, and other staff members who have taken care of Mason. I am also reminded of how blessed I am to have this highly active, little Red Headed Boy in our lives.