Jackson's Health

Hello everyone. I just wanted to let you all know about what's going on with Jack. As you may or may not know, our kids, particularly Jack, usually spend the winters sick. They start getting colds, flu, and stomach viruses in Sept. and just as they get over one they come down with something else untill April or so. Flu shots and cleanliness seem to offer little relief for us. Already this year since the beginning of Sept. Suzanne and Jack have both had double ear infections, TWICE; Sinus infections, TWICE; and last week, Strep Throat. Although Suzanne seems to be recovering OK now, Jack is still running a slight fever and continues to have fluid behind his ears. Jack's asthma has been difficult to control lately and as a result the Dr.s have had to put him on an additional breathing treatment which means he has to take 6 different medications regularly to control his allergies and asthma, PLUS rounds of antibiotics every time he gets an infection (which is an ear or sinus infection everytime he gets sick) PLUS Tylenol/Ibuprofen, Dimetapp, etc. to treat the symptoms of whatever virus he has. (He seems to have something new every week or two.)

So... because of all of this we have taken Jack in for x-rays which have revealed to us that his adenoids and tonsils are (and I quote the ENT Specialist) "huge". They are causing a signifigant amount of blockage and need to be removed. The ENT said because there is persistant fluid behind his ear drums, he would like to also put tubes in his ears at the same time. The ENT and the pediatrician are hopeful that this surgery will help Jack breath better, sleep better, get sick less often, and ultimately need less medication.

We are going to have all of this done very soon. We have a pre-op appiontment on Thurs. after school and Jack will be going in for surgery first thing Monday morning, Oct. 9th. Surgery should only be 30 mins. or so, and hopefully we'll be home for lunch! Jack is excited that he'll be able to stay home from school for a week or two and have all the ice cream, jello, popcicles, and shakes he wants! Jay and I are excited to think about possibly having a healthier child very soon! Meanwhile, we will be spending a lot of time at home. Feel free to call, stop-by, or send him Get Well cards. He will LOVE the extra attention!