TrachKids.org

On Oct 26 Jonah had an open posterior cricoid split with rib graft sugery (and a graft to fix his supra stoma collapse). It worked!!!!!! I will be forever grateful to Jonah's brilliant ENT surgeon Dr Shyan Vijayasakaran at Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth, Western Australia. Less than a week after the surgery Jonah was breathing on his own, drinking his bottles, eating pureed food and crackers, vocalising and playing like a normal 14 month old. He is completely tube free and only has a little dressing over his neck where the scare is healing. He still has some stridor, but apparantly that is expected from the swelling of the surgery. After all he's still learning to cough/swallow his own secretions with his new airway. I am the happiest mother in the world. I knew this day would come eventually.....It feels so strange to take him around the hospital and not have to bring the suction machine etc etc. Even giving him a bath without having the suction machine on standby was sereal! Flying to the opposite side of the country for the surgery was worth it a thousand fold. Hearing Jonah cry is music to my ears. It feels like a dream. If I'd listened to my ENT surgeon in Brisbane, QLD Jonah would still have the trach for at least another year and then things were still up in the air. Don't be afraid to seek a second opinion. Because of this website I learned about other surgery options that were not offered to me and I was able to find a surgeon able and willing to operate on Jonah. It was the best decision I ever made. Thank you for all the support from the bottom of my heart  - Amber xx