Brody Selwood
TrachKid Profile
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This is our precious little man Brody Anton Selwood. He entered the world January 31, 2003 at 38 weeks gestation by a scheduled C-Section because he was breech. We knew something was wrong right from the minute he was born, he had a weak cry and was quite floppy. My husband Anton and I weren't completely shocked, because in September 2001 we had our first son Jayden who also had the same muscle condition, but died at two weeks old due to complications of aspiration pneumonia.
Brody was intubated right away and within hours flown to Calgary Foothills Hospital. When we got there the doctors told us that they were pretty sure Brody had X-linked SMA and there was nothing they could do to help him, and urged us to extubate him and let him die.
So back home to Medicine Hat Hospital we went not knowing what to do. Brody couldn't swallow, had no gag reflex, couldn't breath without a tube down his throat and could only move his hands and arms a bit, but he had the brightest eyes and we knew he was meant to be here, we just couldn't let him go. After many plane trips back and forth from Medicine Hat Hospital to Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, Brody finally got to come home when he was eight months old. He has a trach, home ventilator and had an NJ tube in place when we came home, but just recently when he was fifteen months old he had a g-tube and fundoplication surgery done. We also have a nurse come in every night for eight hours so we can sleep.
Brody is now eighteen months old and doing better than anyone expected. We found out he doesn't have X-linked SMA, I don't know if we will ever have a diagnoses. We just take one day at a time and let Brody lead the way. He has had no hospital stays since discharge other than for his g-tube surgery. He is on minimal support from the ventilator pressure support of 5 peep of 5 and no O2. And he does sprints off the vent. He moves his arms quite well, grabs for and holds on to his toys, grabs his puppy's ears and tail. He can roll to his side and back and occasionally tries to roll on to his tummy. He can sit unsupported for about 15 to 20 seconds. Brody is also a very bright little boy and can wave bye-bye shake his head no and nod for yes and plays peek-a-boo. His face is weak, but finally he is really starting to smile and show his personality. 18 months ago we we would never have believed we would be where we are today, we thought we would be lucky if we had him for two weeks. We know he has his guardian angel watching over him. We thank God every day for our miracle child.
Equipment Brody uses at home:
* 4.5 Shiley trach
* 2 Achieva PS ventilators [we just found out we are getting a Pulmonetics LTV vent]
* 1 stationary suction
* 1 portable suction
* 1 pulse oximeter
* 1 Kangaroo Pet feeding pump
* 1 Mic-key low profile g-tube
Jody Selwood
Email aselwood@monarch.net
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- 3 years 49 weeks
