Esophagus Dilation

Around 9:00 this morning Ronan had to go in for an endoscopy to see why his food was getting stuck. Ronan's GI Doctor told me if he found the cause he would repair it immediately. Ronan was born with Esophageal Atresia and a TE Fistula. This means his esophagus was in two pieces and part of his esophagus was connected to his trachea. When he was one day old he underwent a four hour operation to put his esophagus together. The procedure is rare and Ronan had an even rarer aspect of the surgery. His surgeon said he does maybe two of this type of surgery a year. Ronan's surgeon is brilliant and I thank God regularly he led someone to learn this rare procedure so he could help my baby boy. If you can imagine the delicacy of putting together the esophagus of a one day old infant when it was as soft as jello. The whole concept amazes me. Ronan has a two inch battle wound on his right side to prove it.

This brings us back to today. Sometimes when children have had the above defect the area where it was put together weakens and begins to collapse and narrow. This causes food to get stuck and if left alone can cause almost complete obstruction.We checked in with Endoscopy and the GI doctor explained that if he had to dilate Ronan's esophagus there was the potential Ronan's esophagus could open up again. This would mean a week hospital stay and a repair from his surgeon. The nurse took Ronan back and they let me wait in his room. I did some homework and watched a little tv.

The doctor came back in to tell me he did have to dilate Ronan's esophagus from 8mm to 12mm. The Esophagus was intact. They lead me to Ronan and he was swaddled tightly in a huge blanket. He was squirming and fussing so I grabbed him and held him tight and he drifted back to sleep. He seemed more than relieved to have me hold him. We waitd about an hour and they sent him home. We're to slowly work up to table foods. The GI doctor said there's a chance the procedure will have to be repeated within four months.
The rest of the day has gone smooth. Ronan has been gradually getting back to himself. He's been playing and eating fine. Inara is getting her second tooth and I think possibly the front two on top. The first tooth she got is still just barely above the surface.