Need a G-Tube and Nissen

Long time, no talk! I have been one busy baby lately. After I recovered from my trach surgery, and successfully got taken off my vent... I got moved to my own room!! Yes, that's right - I'm no longer considered unstable and critical. I'm still in the ICU, but I think that's just because the nurses love me so much (check out photos of my new room in the photo gallery). My new room has a TV (to watch Steelers games), a phone, my own bathroom, a shower and a bed so my mommy/daddy can stay with me. It's even a corner room too... with two windows! Hmm, I hope we don't have to pay extra for the second window. They seem to charge you for everything in this place. I better check on that tomorrow.

Back to business - in order for me to go home, I have to be able to take full feeds. Since I'm still not sure about this whole bottle thing (I suck on it like crazy, I just don't get out much), I have to get a G tube (feeding tube in my stomach). My mommy and daddy will be able to work with me on the bottle, but I'll get all my nutrition through the G tube. That surgery is scheduled for December 2. At the same time, I will also be getting tubes in my ears. I wish the surgery could have been sooner, but I was told that some holiday called Thanksgiving is throwing everything off... have any of you heard of this holiday or am I being told a tall tale? Either way, I'm still hopeful that I will be home for Christmas. We will just be cutting it a little closer than we wanted. Santa, I'll keep you updated so you know where to go.

Take care everyone. I love hearing from all of you and can't tell you how honored I am to have so many kind, caring friends. Thanks for the ongoing prayers and well wishes.

Love Ben
http://www.benrusso.com/

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Extubated!!

Greetings from the pod!

I am pleased to tell everyone that I have been extubated and I no longer need my vent or any kind of breathing support (for the first time ever in my life). And I must say, this is nice! Now I can get picked up without ten people helping (not that I didn't like all the ladies doting on me... it was just a little herky jerky). I have to wear a misting collar to keep my secretions loose, but I can go home with that. Once I get eating under control, I'll be on my way home. When do babies start learning how to walk? I'm thinking of working on that too so when I'm ready to go home, I can just GO!

Be sure to check out my photo gallery (under - before trach surgery and after). I have a picture of me without anything on my face (now my feeding tube is back on, but it was off for one wonderful day). For all the ladies out there, you can also check out a photo of me in the tub. Look out David Hasselhoff!!
Until next time - Ben

www.BenRusso.com

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Trach Surgery a Success

Hello everyone. Just want you to know that Ben's trach surgery went well. He is recovering and is already on low vent settings. The doctors will try and remove the trach vent tomorrow to see how he does. They are confident he'll be just fine.

I just wanted to send a quick update. I'm getting off now before Ben realizes I'm using his laptop.

Mike(aka Dad)

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