Fitting the pieces together

I now understand how DS body healed the bowel perforation and why he is still so small and slow to put on weight. (he is 6.8kg at 16.5mths)
Something a friend said the other day put it all together.
He had NEC and perforated his intestines when he was a week old...he was a very sick little boy and the doctors where preparing us for the worst. He was on morphine and two AB's for 2 weeks and was nil by mouth for his first three weeks of life (only intravenous TPN)
When his intestine perforated (one large hole and a few small ones) the sugeon cut an incision in his lower right tummy and feed a tube through into the perforation to remove waste into a bag (colostomy) to keep the peritonitis to a minimum.
When his body healed it created a fistula where the perforation joined to the incision on the outside and pushed the tube out...waste then drained straight out until the wound healed itself.
So there is a part of his intestines joined to the outside so it cannot absorb nutrients through that part and there would also be scar tissue from the smaller holes that would not absorb either....and there was possibly other damage done from the NEC...where part of his intestines died.
Which also why his scar pulls in so much...it is joined inside.
I know it sounds funny but knowing helps to accept why he is small and eat so much. (Being a micro prem and reflux are also part of why he is small)
I feel I can relax a little about it IYKWIM....he is happy and healthy so I know I am very lucky.

He's a very special little boy. You are incredibly lucky to have him.

I didn't know everything that he'd been through. Its amazing.

Thanks Charlotte...he has been through a lot.
You have been through so much with your little one too.
It is hard to see your bub go through that.
We are both lucky :D

Rb, every time you write about your ds I just become more and more amazed by how strong the two of you are. He really is an inspiration! And you! Going through all of this with 6 kids at home, you're amazing!



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Wow. You guys went through so much. I'm so happy that your DS is doing well and that you are feeling better about the way things are now that you have put things into perspective.

My DS is about 9.5 months and going through his first colds. I'm finding that hard enough. I'm just in awe of you and other mum's who have gone through so much more and managed to hold it all together. I know it's a case of having to find the strength when it's your child, but I realise to a small degree now just how hard that can be.

He is an inspiration despite what he has been through he is the happiest baby.
It does help knowing why...having a reason.