Update on Baby Zack

So much has happened since we spread the news about Baby Zack arriving. It is hard to update everyone individually, so hopefully this blog will keep everyone up to date on whats going on.



To get everyone up to speed, Zack has Pneumonia in both lungs, was exposed to Strep B in the birth canal, and has PPHN, Persistent Pulmonary Hypotension. Basically, his lungs and heart think that he is still in the womb, where the blood bypasses the lungs and gets oxygenated in the heart. His heart thinks the blood should should go to the lungs where it belongs, and his lungs say no, I'm not born yet, go back to the heart. Right now we are in the long, slow process of getting them to get along better, like their supposed to. He is on a ventilator, and is in the NICU at Baptist Hospital in Montgomery.



Here is the long story:



A few hours after being born, I saw that the blinds were closed in front of Zack's crib window. I peeked thru the crack and noticed they were holding an Ambu bag above his face. I knew that was not good. I went inside and saw that the oxygen level in his blood was 80%, when it should be 98-100%. The nurses were blowing air across his face, and the Oxygen levels went back up to normal, but fell as soon as she took them away. They called the Neonatologist and he immediately sen him to the NICU where he was xrayed and put on a CPAP machine.



Initially the fear was that the strep B had set up an infection in his lungs, but we do not think that is the case now. Shannon was given 2 antibiotic injections, so he is ahead of the curve in fighting the infection. An ultrasound showed that he also had Persistent Pulmonary Hypoytension. What that means is that his lungs and heart were acting like he was still in the womb. It is a very serious condition.



By 11:30, Zack still had Oxygen levels in the low 80s and dropping, though he was being given 100% oxygen thru the CPAP. His respirations were double what they should be. He only took shallow breaths, but a lot of them to compensate. He had ingested and inhaled some fluid durng birth, and this fluid, which is like black tar was keeping his air sacs from opening. They asked me to leave the NICU, since the doctor made the decision to sedate him and intubate (put a tube in his mouth and throat to help him get 100% oxygen in his lungs). He was transported across town by Angel One to Baptist South in case the next step was needed.



They gave him a surfactant, a soap like substance that helps dissolve the stuff in his lungs. He responded immediately and his oxygen levels ran up to 98, but his breathing rate was still high.



By 1:00 AM I got to go into the Baptist South NICU to see him. He was still at 98% Oxygen level in his blood (Good!) and had been weaned down to 50% Oxygen. Confusing , I know, but the ventilator was not having to give him 100% oxygen like the Cpap was.



By 3:30 AM he was still stable and they had weaned him down to 45%. He has been stable since then and as of today is breathing the same oxygen level you and I breathe (21%).



We do not know how long he will be in NICU, but they are saying to be prepared for two to three weeks or longer.



Thank you for your love and care and concern during this last 48 hours. We have expierenced so much of God's love and grace through you all that we will never be able to repay it, except by passin it along. We have heard some of the most beautiful prayers offered for Zack by doctors and nurses at Baptist, and friends and family. We plan on updating this blog as much as possible, so check back to see the latest. Things happen so quickly in a situation like this, and we cannot have cell phones around the NICU, so I hope this way we can do a better job of updating everyone here. Still do feel free to call and check in.



Zachary Garrett is Hebrew and Latin for 'The Lord Remembers the Courageous'....and he is earning his stripes. Keep praying for us and Zack.