Landon Grew Wings!

            Yesterday, Landon grew his wings and became an angel.  Landon was 23 days old.  We received a phone call yesterday morning as I posted in the last post for urgent prayers needed.  They had put Landon on maximum support literally because they had nothing else they could resort to.  It broke my heart to see my sweet little baby laying there helplessly trying to fight with everything he had.  They tried switching him back to the conventional ventilator when his O2 sats were in the 60s and they went up to around 75ish but only for a very few short minutes.  They dropped drastically into the 50s so they switched him back to the oscillator.  He didn't really improve.  Dr. Dykes told us then there was nothing else she could do for him.  This really broke my heart into a million little pieces that I was going to lose my son.  I think this is every mother's nightmare and worst fear.  He then started going down in the 40s then 30s and we knew it was getting time for him to go home.  They turned the monitors off so we couldn't see them.  Daddy held his son for the first and last time alive.  I held him after then Pops and then he had passed away in Pop's arms with maximum support.  He was just so ill he couldn't fight anymore.  At least he's not suffering anymore and has a new perfect body that he will never hurt in again.  Mimi held her grandson for the first time after he had passed.  We had a photographer come in to do pictures with us and baby Landon.  We miss baby Landon so very much.  I can honestly say that they really did everything they could possibly do to save my little fighter.  It was just his time to go.  Thomas and I did sign for them to do a partial autopsy of his chest and abdomen for us to have closure.  To answer questions like would he have made it whether he had the surgery or not?  If he had enough lung? Or if they just missed something during the process of everything?  Thomas and I just couldn't live NOT knowing what was really going on in there.  I just can't express the appreciation Thomas and I have for each and every person that prayed for Landon and us or that sent us words of encouragement or just thought of us through out the day.  Landon is now our guardian angel that is happy and living pain free.  Mommy and Daddy will always love you sweet angel.  You will always have our hearts and our love.  May God Bless you all!!

Urgent prayer needed for Landon.

           We recieved yet another phone call this morning at 5:20 from the hospital that Landon was not doing well.  His O2 sats have went down in the 70s and he's already on maximum support on the oscillator.  They have upped his dosage on his blood pressure medicines, his paralyzing meds, and giving him 2 bags of normal saline and nothing seems to be helping him.  They are working vigorously trying to find SOMETHING that will help.  I'm asking everyone right now to say a little pray for my sweet baby boy.  He has already gone through so much and I just pray that he starts having some good days.  Thank you all so much!

February 8, 2011

            Landon had another bad night last night.  His O2 sats went down in the 60s and heart rate went over 200.  They then had to resort to putting him on the oscillator to help stabilize him.  Thomas and I didn't find out this information until this morning since they had failed to call us last night to let us know anything about it.  The doctor's excuse was that she wanted us to rest and the nurse's excuse was that she didn't know to call us.  I liked the doctor's excuse better but I was still pretty mad.  Anyway, he has been pretty stable today.  He doesn't like being touched or moved very much right now.  He starts dropping his O2 sats down in the 70s and 80s.  His heart rate did come down a little today to like 165-175.  This was an improvement for him seeing as it has been hanging around 190-200.  We ask you all to pray that he fights this infection off very quickly so my little man can have his surgery and start getting better.  I really pray that he starts having better days than he has been!  May God Bless You All!

Rough Days for Landon :( 3 weeks old today!

            This yeast infection that Landon has is really getting my poor baby down. :(  On the 5th his fever wouldn't break and he started having problems with his blood pressure.  At 2:37 AM on 2/6/11 my phone started ringing and it was Egleston.  Thomas and I knew something wasn't good because they don't call you in the middle of the night for good news.  So of course we threw clothes on and rushed up to Egleston.  Landon had been desating as far as the 50's for his O2 saturations since midnight.  They had to bump him up to 100% oxygen and the highest settings on his ventilator along with putting him on nitric oxide to keep him stable.  He had to be put on a lot of blood pressure support to keep it stable.  Then around 9AM or so they called and needed consent to put a new central line in so they could remove the one in his neck.  They believe that the cause of the infection was the old one in his neck.  We gave consent and tried to get a little more sleep.  They called us again and said that their attempt failed and wanted to take him to OR and see if they could place one in the other side of his neck.  They did an ECHO before they took him to see how his pulmonary hypertension was and it was very severe.  Almost as bad as when he was on ECMO.  So Dr. Moore then canceled taking him to OR.  He felt that it was too risky to move him with his pulmonary hypertension so severe.  They wanted to try for another groin attempt for the central line.  So he called his friend that was a Cardiologist to come take a look to see if he could get it in.  He was able to get it in.  So they got the old one out.  Landon had a pretty calm night.  No phone call in the middle of the night last night.  Called to check on him this morning and he was still on a lot of blood pressure support but they were able to wean him down on his ventilator settings! Thank God.  I was talking to Thomas the other night and said you know Landon has been through more in his 3 weeks of life than most people go through in their entire life.  He is a little fighter.  We ask that you continue to pray for our sweet little boy because we know that God still works miracles all the time!

Landon Update!

            Landon has had good days these past couple of days.  O2 sats had been good and had been weaning him down on his ventilator settings.  Mommy finally got to hold him yesterday at 17 days old for 3 hours! Was definitely the best 3 hours, just wasn't long enough!  Well, last night he started running a fever.  Wasn't too terribly high but then started getting higher today.  They did some cultures last night to see if it was an infection, those didn't show anything so they thought it may have been some withdrawls from weaning him off the morphine.  So today she gave him back a little bit of the morphine and started some antibiotics just to be on the safe side.  They re-did the cultures today and it did come back positive for a yeast infection.  Therefore this delays surgery and now it could be up to 3 weeks before we get repaired now! :(  Prayers are definitely appreciated!  I'll update again soon!

God Bless,
Amanda Sprayberry

February 1, 2011

         Landon was good all night long.  He stayed stable through the night.  His blood gases, O2, and everything stayed good through out the night and all day today.  They changed his bed and faced him the other direction in his bed.  I've been able to change his diaper today, but daddy hasnt wanted to since he still has some iv's and things in his feet.  He will get more comfortable with it soon though.  His nurse Amy and I gave him a lotion bath this morning and he tolerated it well.  He definitely has a good grip he didn't wanna let go.  We talked with Dr. Dykes today and it seems like we're looking at surgery to repair him sometime next week.  But this is all subject to change!  They are going to be moving him around in different positions to try and get some of the fluids off of him.  She said that we may be able to hold him in a few days as long as he stays stable.  Mommy will be very emotional on this day!  but thats okay.  They did discontinue his paralyzing medicine so he's able to move around.  Were hoping he keeps having good days like these so we can keep improving and get to go HOME!

January 31, 2011

          Today, baby Landon came off ECMO.  Yesterday we were told by pretty much every doctor that we talked to to get prepared to lose our son.  I would not accept that God had brought us this far, he would bring us all the way.  Landon proved all the doctors wrong today and made a complete 180 from yesterday!  They could wean like crazy on ECMO and he did great!  They did his O2 challenge and it was okay but not great.  They capped off ECMO so basically it wasnt doing anything for him.  It was all the ventilator and Landon.  He did great!  They did the surgery around 4:30 or so and we got to go back and see him shortly after they were finished.  It was so weird to see him without all the tubes, but a good weird.  Since I had not seen him without all the "stuff" hooked up to him.  Thomas and I will be staying at the hospital with Landon tonight.  We went back after surgery and talked to him and he popped his eyes open for a brief minute and of course mommy cried.  It was the first time I had truely seen his eyes open and it was so precious.  Today was also the first day I changed his diaper.  Thank you all so much for the continued prayers and we ask to keep them coming.  Our next hurdle will be getting repaired.

January 30, 2011

            Today has been a rough day.  We have talked to doctors and nurses and tons of people today.  It all seems to be a blur.  Landon was being temper mental this morning making them work.  He has been on a lot of support from the ECMO machine these past couple of days.  Tomorrow will be the day that he comes off ECMO and see how well he does without it.  We are feeling every emotion possible at this point I think.  I'm really not understanding why he's going through this but I know that God has a plan.  We're just not always aware of that reason.  I never imagined how quick your child could rip your heart out of your chest and claim it as theirs.  We are asking for prayers for Baby Landon and our entire family as tomorrow will be a very very emotional day for our family.  Thank you all!

January 29, 2011

         Yesterday, Landon had a rough day.  His O2 sats were all over the place for most of the night and during the day.  He would all of a sudden drop to the 80's and they would move the ECMO canulas around in his neck and they would get better.  They thought it was recirculation which is ECMO going into ECMO and he wasn't getting enough oxygenated blood is why his sats kept going down.  Then they thought he may be telling them he was ready to come off ECMO so they did an O2 challenge and he failed miserably.  He got a 70 on his blood gas and they want it well over 200 when he's ready to come off ECMO.  This is not to say he can't pass it Monday when he HAS to come off.  Dr. Williams did say that it was a possibility with it being this low that he may not have enough lung BUT we still believe in miracles and will not give up on Baby Landon.  He has fought this far already and I believe that he will keep fighting.  Today, he has been pretty stable at one setting so that is good.  His chest x-ray showed less air in his intestines and his heart has shifted more mid line.  We ask that you keep praying for Landon as we will continue also.  Thank you so much for all the prayers and support.  May God Bless You All.

January 27, 2011

           Yesterday was a good day for Baby Landon!  He was able to be awake a good bit of the day but not fully and handled it well.  Last night they were able to go down on ECMO to 270 and tolerated very well.  They will probably go up on his sedation meds and morphine because he's gotten so used to it he wakes up 20- 30 mins after they give it to him.  Thomas and I got to see him open his eyes for a brief second.  I cried a little of course but they were happy tears.  Things seem to be getting better and better with God on our side and him having a hand on Landon.  Our baby is definitely a fighter and I pray everyday that he continues to be a fighter.  He is such a blessing to Thomas and I already.  They did find some air in his intestines on the chest x-ray from this morning, but it wasn't a great amount.  They probably will up his dose on his medications today so he actually stays asleep instead of waking up so frequently and try to get this air out of his intestines.  We are so blessed to have such great doctors and nurses taking care of our sweet angel.  Mommy and Daddy love you Landon and can't wait to take you home!  Please continue to pray that he makes these improvements!  We appreciate each and every prayer that goes up for our son!

January 24, 2011 I'm a week old today!

     Today, Landon decided to scare mommy when I called to check on him this morning!  He did good all night then after his morning assessment he decided to make everyone wake up!  They had to turn ECMO up to 490 (the highest it's been since he's been on).  So I went into panic mode and got up here as quick as I could!  By the time I had got here this morning he had bumped back down to 380.  He's remained stable since then and is at 340 as of now.  I'm hoping they can keep on coming down because they want him down to 200 to start thinking about taking him off.  He's so precious just laying there and it breaks my heart not being able to help him.  It keeps me going though knowing he doesn't feel any of it!  Daddy went back to work today and will be back up tonight.  Mommy loves you sweet angel!

January 22, 2011

        Landon is still following doctor's orders great!  He is doing everything they expect him too so I'm very thankful for that!  We had a lot of visitors today for my sweet angel and I definitely appreciate that and all the prayers/ words of encouragement!  It's definitely an emotional time for our entire family.  But I've seen God work in so many ways already throughout the time we've already been here.  I believe with all my heart that Landon is in the best place he could be in.  The doctors and nurses have been just absolutely wonderful!!  They were able to turn down the ECMO to 315 today which is the lowest they have been able to go down to since he's been on the machine!  He had to have another blood transfusion yesterday to give him more platelets and red blood cells.  He isn't as puffy/swollen today after they started his diuretics and lasiks.  He's already stolen my heart from the time I laid eyes on him.  Thomas and I are doing fairly well other than being absolutely exhausted!  I never thought just sitting could tire you out so much.  I don't know how to express just how much we appreciate and cherish every prayer that is said for our sweet angel!  

May God Bless You!
Amanda Sprayberry

January 20, 2011

        Landon is still stable today!  They were able to knock the flow of the ECMO machine down yesterday a little bit so that was a blessing in itself!  He is very swollen today because he is paralyzed and not being able to move.  So the fluids are just sitting there.  They did have to give him some lasix and diuretics to help him pee and hopefully some of the swelling  will go down.  There really won't be anything changing until they really start coming down on ECMO.  Or unless something wrong happens which were hoping doesn't happen!  He's definitely a little fighter! 

Thank you for all the prayers and support once again.
Amanda Sprayberry

January 17, 2011 Landon's Birthday!

     Well, Landon thought it was time to come on out in to this big scary world!  I started having a lot of back pain around 5 or so in the evening on Jan. 16.  I went and showered thinking that may ease the pain.  Then, the pain started getting gradually worse and going to my stomach and getting really painful.  We figured it was time to go to the hospital.  We started off going to Piedmont Newnan Hospital just to make sure.  I was dialated 2-3 cm by then so they told us to head to Grady!  We got to Grady and was in a room quick.  I was still about a 3 when we got there but my water had broke so we were staying!  They gave me my epidural around 4am or so and I tried to get as much sleep as I could which wasn't much!  I had dilated to about 4cm on my on then they started me on pitocin to get him moving a bit!  My epidural actually came out about an hour before I started pushing!  Definitely didn't know!  But, I pushed for about 10-15 mins and he was out! 
     They stabilized him in the delivery room as much as possible and then took him upstairs to the NICU to do more!  They also intubated him in the delivery room so he wouldn't cry and stress!  I only got to see a very short glimpse of him and didn't get to touch him at all.  This was very hard for me!  They left with him about 4 or 5 pm and took him to Egleston.  Thomas and Jimbo went with him and Carol stayed with me at Grady.  
     Landon did good for a while at Egleston then started crashing multiple times, so the decision was made for him to be put on ECMO a lung heart bypass, to keep him alive.  I didn't take this very well at all.  I hadn't even got to touch my son or barely even see him and he was at the point of death and I couldn't even be there with him.  After they got him on ECMO though he did stabalize and do better through the night.  
     He stayed stable pretty much all day today Jan. 18th.  I got to see my son for really the first time today.  I also got to touch him for the first time.  I so badly wanted to hold him, but couldn't.  I know its for the best for him though.  It's just an indescribable feeling not being able to do anything to help him just laying there.  But at least he's not in pain.  They have him pretty much paralyzed so he's not stressing or moving.  But, he's stable right now and we continue to pray that it stays that way!  
     Thomas and I are being strong as we can through all of this even though it's tough for our entire family.  Just not knowing what the next hour could bring is terrifying.  I just pray that God takes care of him like he already is showing he has.  Again, thank you for all the prayers and support!  Mommy and Daddy love you Baby Landon!

May God Bless You All!
Amanda Sprayberry

January 15, 2011 Egleston Tour

         Today, Thomas and I and his parents went up to Egleston's Children Hospital to do a tour of the NICU.  We had a RN give us the tour and she explained a lot of what to expect while we're there and what could happen.  We had a very good experience today, even though it was pretty tough for me.  I guess it really just set in seeing it with my own 2 eyes all the sick babies that are fighting for their lives and our baby boy will be there soon also fighting.  It broke my heart to see all of those beds full and so few family members there with them! It will definitely be a tough journey for our family through all this, but we will make it through it because God is in control and he will take care of us and Baby Landon! Only a week and a half to go unless Landon decides earlier!  Thank you for the prayers once again! God still preforms miracles!

May God Bless You!
Amanda Sprayberry

January 13, 2011

        We actually had a quick appointment today at Grady surprisingly!  Landon's stomach is back up in his chest all the way, but nothing else has went up so that is a blessing in itself.  We had a student doing the ultrasound at first and I was not too impressed with her especially when she says is that his leg or his arm.  I mean I can even tell that!  I was very glad when the real sonographer came in to take over.  Landon did get an 8 as his score today so I was very happy about that and that he actually cooperated for once. :)  So we have one more appointment at Grady and then the following week he will be here, unless he decides otherwise!  We are preparing our self for the road ahead of us and just praying that it will all go smoothly.  It will definitely be an emotional time for Thomas and I and our family also!  Just preparing for the worst and hoping for the best at this point!  Again, thank you all soo very much for all the prayers!  God hears everyone of them!

May God bless you!
Amanda Sprayberry

Good Doctor's Appointment 01/06/11

      Today, we had another ultrasound at Grady!  This appointment made me relieve some of the stress.  A small piece of Landon's stomach seems to be back below the diaphragm and back into the abdomen.  The majority of the stomach is still in the chest, but I thank God for any improvement at this point.  She did say that she had never seen the stomach fully go back into the abdomen, but the doctor's also aren't God and he still works miracles!  We're hoping and praying baby Landon just keeps getting better! Please continue to pray for him as we see that God is working!  I was told the other day that Landon will be a miracle baby and I completely believe that with all my heart!

Hope everyone has a great day and may God bless you all!
Amanda Sprayberry