Not a Good Start

We've come back to Tokyo after 2 months in Singapore & KL. But things aren't so good right now. Gabe is in the ICU and is set to remain there for the next 2 weeks or so. Here are the events:

31st Jan
3pm: Gabe has bloody poop. Streaks of it. Am a bit worried but we were about to board the flight.

12am: Reach home, Gabe poops again, i see blood again

1st Feb
10.30am
Arrive at Dr H's clinic for Gabe's check up. While waiting, he pooped again, this time more blood. Dr H happened to pass by and i showed him. Took note of it and checked Gabe's oxy levels...not as good as it should be..reading was 62-64%. It should be in range of 70-75% at least.
Dr H immediately tells us that he feels Gabe should be admitted for further tests for the bloody stool & low oxy levels.

1pm: Checked into the ward, they take blood from him to test for any infections. Proceed to prepare him for the ECG check. Not good, they find that the flow in his shunt is no longer as visible as previous. So they order a CT scan for details.

3.30pm: CT scan is performed, Gabe is given a sedative

5.30pm: Dr H informs us that the shunt has narrowed slightly and to try improve it, Gabe will need to do a Cardiac Catheterization to open up the narrowed part. Devastated even though it's not a surgery. Heart still breaks. Poor Gabe.

6pm: Gabe is prepped and put to sleep.

8.30pm: Dr H is finished and informs us that Gabe is now in the ICU. BUT, the procedure did not increase his oxy levels as much as it should. Therefore, he feels that the shunt is now too small for Gabe who is growing fast. Dr H informs us that it is likely Gabe will need an operation to insert a 2nd shunt...we're stunned though they did tell us of this possibility when he did the 1st op.

9.30pm: go to ICU, lil boy is sedated and hooked up on the ventilator to give him more oxy...they will try to remove it tomorrow and see the levels.

2nd Feb
11am: Arrive at ICU, they informed us that they trid to remove they tube this morning, but Gabe cried and his levels dropped to 60%, they fels it was too risky to remove him and therefore sedated him again and put him back ont he ventilator...we were crushed, thought he'd at least be transferred to normal ward then we could hold and be with him.
Dr H says that they will have a discussion with the surgeon tonight to push his op forward as it is not good to wait another month...we weren't prepared for this...so soon...Gabe has to go thru all that again...

We will be informed of the team's opinion tomorrow morning...

It's not a good start to 2012...to there's nothing we can do, but pray & hope that this lil boy who has come so far, will stay strong and brave.

As for the bloody stool, they got a ped specialist but he could not find any apparent reason for the blood. Gabe's stomach seemed fine. So they are stopping his milk feeds to let his bowel rest. Dr H says it is reasonable to wait a lil further and see. The bacteria results will only be out in 4-5 days time. So meanwhile it's a waiting game...i just pray it's nothing serious.

I will update you all once i get any info...meanwhile keep Gabe in your prayers..