Truman is trying

Truman apparently heard everyone talking about surgery, and responded, "Not Yet!"

After a very scary night on Saturday, Truman re-stabilized Sunday. His ventilator settings are still high, but he got his 02 levels and blood pressure under control. He's back off the blood pressure medication again. Some of the distention in his stomach appears to have lessened (His abdomen is 1 cm smaller), and he appears to be less uncomfortable than he was.

He is also making some progress in slowly but surely getting the meconium out. He had a stool with the help of an enema, one on his own, and one with the help of the surgeon. It was the first time he passed anything more than a "smear." The doctors and nurses think he's still pretty plugged up, but he appears to be making small steps.

The surgeon had his consult just after 6 p.m. yesterday. He ruled out all the scary things -- like NEC (colitis) and any "mechanical" difficulties such as a large intestine that gets smaller in a spot rather than progressively larger (and would therefore continually create blockages until surgically corrected) -- and tried a more invasive, deeper enema than the nurses have that enabled Truman to pass some more meconium. Dr. Roden (the surgeon) said it was very sticky, which means it's probably too sticky for his sluggish little bowel to pass. Dr. Roden said he's going to come daily and give this more invasive enema for the time being and said no surgery is needed at this point.

So, Truman has bought himself some time and is making a little progress.

Thanks for all the prayers,
Kara