Look ma, no trach!

Today was the big day: the ENT doctor was going to see whether there was any scar tissue in Peter's trachea before they could remove the tracheostomy. Within 45 minutes he returned and announced the joyful news that they found only a slight narrowing of the trachea but no actual scar tissue. So they decided to remove the trach and close his trachea!

After another hour in the recovery unit, they brought Peter to us, completely awake and happy and with a bandage over his wound. He will now have to spend a night in the hospital for observation and can then come home with us tomorrow, without any artificial pieces in him. For another month he will have to continue sleeping on an alarm (for heart rate and oxygen saturation), but that is only as a precaution. Our nurses will now lose their job with us as of Monday; after 2 more days observation we'll be saying goodbye to our home health care nurses (thanks, ladies!).

We are grateful to God who has been very good to us. We can hardly believe anymore what Peter has come through.

Birthday boy

One week ago Peter celebrated his first birthday. We are very, very thankful to have reached this milestone. How far he has come in a year!

Peter celebrated by eating a cupcake which he first squeezed through his fingers until it was reduced to crumbs. He also enjoyed visits from friends and playing with balloons.

It's only a week now until his bronchoscopy. Please pray that all would go well and that he can have his trach out soon.