Simple Joys in Life: Seven Months

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Seven Months

The "No Way am I Showing You my Teeth, Mama" Edition:

Seven Months Old
Height: 28 1/2 inches
Weight: 20 pounds

Pediatrician Comments: Ben has infections in each ear and has croup! Ew. Omnicef for the ears, prednisolone for the croup.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: What a cute kid! Big brother is not so bad either.
Love, Gram; January 21, 2009 11:44 AM
Lacey said...: What a big boy he is getting to be! And looking more like Anthony every day. Too cute! Can't wait to see you guys. Love you and have fun in Atlanta this weekend.; January 22, 2009 9:59 PM
Anonymous said...: aawww..poor kid. ear infections and croup. He was just fine this past weekend. Hopefully the trip to atlanta won't be to hard on him. love ya'll and have a blast this weekend!!; January 22, 2009 10:02 PM
Renee said...: I (LOVE) that photo!; February 03, 2009 2:58 PM

About Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia is a progressive inflammatory process that begins very soon after birth. In the most common form, called extrahepatic biliary atresia, the delicate ducts outside the liver are affected first. White blood cells invade the ducts, which become damaged and may whither or completely disappear. Bile is trapped inside the liver and rapidly causes damage and scarring to the liver cells. Further scarring of the liver tissue may result in cirrhosis.

On average, there is one case of biliary atresia out of every 15,000 live births. Females are affected slightly more often than males. In the United States, approximately 300 new cases are diagnosed each year.

The cause of biliary atresia is unknown. Auto-immune mechanisms may be partly responsible for the progressive process that takes place. Recent research suggests that a viral infection in susceptible infants could result in biliary atresia. About 10% of cases have other associated congenital defects in the heart, blood vessels, intestine, or spleen.

Although the cause is uncertain, it is known that biliary atresia affects only newborns; it is not hereditary; it is not contagious; and it is not preventable.

A surgical procedure called the Kasai (hepatoportoenterostomy) can be performed in hopes of saving the liver. With the Kasai, the liver is connected directly to the small intestine, circumventing the gall bladder. The Kasai is usually successful in 1/3 of cases, while the other 2/3 result in the need for a liver transplant. Anthony's team of doctors were unable to diagnose Anthony with biliary atresia, and the Kasai was never performed. We learned after his transplant that the Kasai would never have worked, and we would have traveled the same road to transplant.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Seven Months

4 comments:

Simple Joys in Life

My Two Men

Followers

Blog Archive

Blogs I Read

Sign up to be an Organ Donor!

40 Reasons to Donate Life

My Flickr Photos

About Biliary Atresia

How Many People Love This Site???