Well, so much for Frankie’s newly rethreaded PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line. We had just gotten it rethreaded on July 23rd, and it lasted all of two weeks. During the rethread on the 23rd, Frankie ended up as something of a guinea pig under the hospital’s newly adopted policy requiring a StatLock instead of suturing the PICC in place. We spent the two weeks struggling through dressing changes on a line that wasn’t secured.
By the second dressing change, the line developed a hole. With his dressing soaked, peeling off, and no longer sterile or occlusive, we did the best emergency change we could and rushed him to the emergency room. They hemmed and hawed for several hours over what to do while Frankie sat in a non-sterile dressing, a breeding ground for bacteria. I was advocating my lungs out to get that infection risk out of him. Finally, they removed it, and we were admitted to the surgical floor to get a Broviac (a surgically placed central line in his chest). If they’d taken one more minute, I might have removed that PICC myself.
Later that night, they did an ultrasound to find a vessel for the Broviac and ended up discovering a clot. Thankfully, the surgeon was still able to place the new line the next morning, but we then had to start anticoagulation treatment the following day. Frankie’s hematologist says he’ll likely need to be on Lovenox injections for as long as he has a central line, which could be several years. I learned how to give the injections while we were in the hospital, and now I administer them twice a day at home. 💉
Through it all, Frankie was all smiles, charming every nurse on the floor. I’m so thankful this was a “fixable” hospital stay and not an infection.
At home, Frankie’s working hard in PT, OT, and speech, while Henry’s busy cruising with his walker and showing off his FOUR teeth. 🦷 Can you believe they’re 17 months already? I’m eyeing tumbling classes for Henry as soon as those first steps happen.
We also recently had a pulmonology follow-up. Frankie’s pulmonologist made a small wean to his vent settings and is optimistic that if all goes well Frankie could be completely weaned off the ventilator in about two years.
Life is busy, but oh so sweet. 💙
Love,
Amanda
