Olivia Has Finally Done It!
Olivia has finally done it!
THE G-TUBE (HER FEEDING TUBE) IS OFFICIALLY OUT OF HER STOMACH!
Olivia decided it was time for a change, so as she was taking a nap, she did the honors of taking her G-Tube out of her stomach! By the time we caught it, the hole in the stomach pretty much closed up! We were so nervous because she was taking water and medicine through the G-Tube. We sought out the doctors and we all agreed to keep it closed unless she wasn't thriving in the next 4 weeks.
SO IT IS FINALLY OUT and Olivia is eating and drinking everything by mouth (which has been happening since Mother's Day 2018 besides water)! She still struggles with taking water by mouth, but that is a working process.
If you don't know Olivia's story, let me fill you in quickly!
Last year Olivia was skin and bones because she wasn't able to take anything by mouth (which led to a delay in her speech and malnutrition). So we tried doing a NG Tube (where she was getting fed through a tube in her nose). That became very complicated and created more health issues, so we decided it was time for Olivia to have a tube surgically put in her stomach!
That procedure was very successful, but sickening! She had a tube attached to her day and night! But it did the job and Olivia successfully gained the weight she needed to thrive!
Olivia started to see a Speech Therapist, who has helped her with her feeding as well as speech/sign language. And now Olivia is eating things that normal toddlers eat like fish sticks, french fries, GOLDFISH (her ultimate favorite), spaghetti, cereal, etc. We are still working on her feeding as well as her speech. I am just so excited to see a big difference from last year to this year! Thank you Jesus! We were so nervous about the surgery, but it was worth it!
NOW OLIVIA DOESN'T HAVE TO RELY ON A FEEDING TUBE ANYMORE!
It took prayer and support from our family, friends, and community! I am truly thankful that the Lord is working in Olivia and our lives! Prayers have been answered and are continually being answered! She is doing an AMAZING JOB and she is super CUTE! MY GIRL!
*If you know any parent that needs encouragement about their child having a disability or a G-Tube, please share this blog with them. Hopefully it will bring encouragement to them! *