Beckett's BIG Day

For two months now I felt like we have been in limbo.  We have waited and waited for this day to come - testing on Beckett's kidneys to determine how they are functioning.  Two months ago we had learned from previous testing at Dallas Children's Hospital that he had grade 5 kidney reflux.  We left that appointment devastated and with a million different questions.  Unfortunately none of our questions could be answered until we knew the results of today's testing.  Such a long, long wait.

Guy and I were up and drinking coffee by 4:30 this morning.  It just seemed better to do something rather than laying in bed thinking.  By 7:15 we were packed and ready and on our way downtown.  It's a good thing we arrived early because they sent us to two different offices in the Ambulatory Pavillion before we finally figured out that we should be in the main building.  After navigating the ENORMOUS hospital (and it's under construction), we finally got to admitting and then on to the Radiology department.  We must have walked two miles just to finally get to the right spot.

I had packed every toy, book, blanket, paci, etc, etc, that I could think of.... so that of course meant that we had to forget something really important.  Yeah, a stroller would have been nice.  I'm sure Guy's arms are throbbing right about now!

Beckett was given an IV to inject the medicine to for the DMSA procedure.  Poor baby was SO tired and wanted to fall asleep desperately, but I didn't want him to be woken up by the pain of a needle - it just seemed too mean.   So he cried for just a minute while the needle was going in and then fell asleep.  He even got some sugar water to help him relax!

After that we rushed off to complete the sonogram.  He looks so little on that big bed!!

One the sonogram was over we had about an hour and a half to grab a delicious hospital breakfast and then find a spot to hang out and kill time.  I spoke with the insurance company and heard some good news - once they heard the results of the test they would rush our application to the underwriters so that we are hopefully approved for new insurance!  This is wonderful because I really didn't want to put Beckett on a temporary insurance plan that wouldn't cover his kidney condition.

Next up we went back to radiology to complete the DMSA test.  They taped him to the bed, but it really wasn't a big deal.  After enduring the last test (baby rotisserie), this was a piece of cake.  I got to hold his hand the whole time.  In fact he just sucked on his paci and smiled most of the time.  Such a sweet, sweet boy!

 

Finally we navigated our way back to our car and to the Ambulatory Pavillion to meet with Dr. Harrison about the results.  I was pretty much a nervous wreck.

On a side note though...... Nothing, NOTHING puts your life into perspective until you spend a day at a children's hospital.  We saw so many sweet little angels who were hooked up to machines and wore masks, confined to wheelchairs, and had major deformities.  I can't even begin to imagine how their parents must feel.  At one point we went into a sedation room to weigh him (a chunky 14.4 pounds!) and it was filled with children in beds and on machines.  I physically had to will myself to go in there with Beckett.  I have never felt that panicky protection feeling before.

We are so fortunate that Beckett has one perfectly healthy kidney and his issue is not life threatening.  It can be fixed.

Finally Dr. Harrison arrived and gave us the news..... Beckett's right kidney is functioning at 41% (58% on the left).  This isn't great, but it's not horrible either.  Basically it tells us that the kidney is dysplastic (not formed correctly) and isn't fully functional.  But we don't have to schedule a surgery unless he gets an infection.  One infection and he will most likely have to have reimplementation surgery.  Two infections and he will definitely have to have it.  We also learned that this is genetic and his siblings will have a 40% chance of also having kidney reflux or other kidney issues.  Not what I wanted to hear.  BUT we are stopping the antibiotics, which is a relief.  They are pretty controversial and I hated giving my infant that medicine.

So, yes we did have good news.  Some not so good too.  And I feel like we are still in limbo.  We go back in six months for another sonogram.  They will continue to monitor him and we are to continue to watch for signs of an infection.  I try hard not to be neurotic about checking him for an infection, but I can't help it.  I check his temperature every day, smell his wet diaper (oh yes I do), and constantly question how fussy is "sick" fussy.   But mostly, I just soak up every minute with him.

Hospital Giggles Video