Day 46: A Successful Thoracentesis

Duplicated from our CaringBridge site for permanent record here.

January 2, 2021, written by Mama

Today we made progress treating Thomas's pleural effusion. But first, let me share the most heart-warming news from the whole day: Thomas said "Mama!"

I think it is quite possible this is the first time I've heard our beautiful boy call me Mama in these long six weeks. In fact, when he was briefly speaking during an interim off the ventilator, he said Daddy and I recorded it. 

Today I was sitting by the bed, Thomas opened his eyes, turned his head purposefully toward me and said clearly and fairly loudly (not a whisper), "Mama." The nurse was standing right there and witnessed my joy. I burst into tears and Thomas proceeded to say "Mama" three more times within ten minutes. He was not crying in pain, either, just talking to me calmly, which made it even better.

Meanwhile, the team did a second treatment of TPA to try to get the pleural effusion to flow out of the right chest tube. It only caused a release of about 50 cc. 

Therefore, they decided to proceed next to a thoracentesis, in which a fairly large bore needle would be inserted into the space behind Thomas's lungs so that the fluid can be drawn out. This was a sterile procedure bedside, but I was allowed to stay in the room on my little couch. Thomas had local anesthesia and conscious sedation and did so well, his HR and BP rock solid the whole time.

They drew off 260 cc of fluid from just behind the right lung! He is breathing so much better and the nurses were nearly gleeful with how good his lungs sound.

We are so glad the thoracentesis worked because the next steps to help re-inflate the lung were to intubate and/or to do a laparoscopic surgery to clean out the pleural effusion and then leave Thomas intubated.

Meanwhile, outside the four walls of this PICU, Dad took the children hiking to see beautiful waterfalls after a couple of days of rain. 

Back at home, precious David (3) drew a picture of Mama . . . a little skinnier than the real thing!

David's potty training was severely sidetracked and delayed because of Thomas's cancer diagnosis and I've been wondering when on earth I'd be home long enough ever to potty train him. His big sister Mary (12) came to the rescue and has been potty training him very successfully for a week so far! This kid is only having about once accident per day. I'm so proud of the trainer and the trainee!

Note to everyone: I miss my children at home so badly, my whole body aches.