Burnt

Houston, we have a problem. Two words...granulation tissue. What is that you ask?? Well it's one of four types of skin issues that can arise when you have a g-tube. It just so happens to be the grossest one. It is very common and treatable. It grows directly around the gastrostomy hole and looks raised, red and may ooze fluid or bleed easily. It basically looks like stomach is coming out of the hole. Granulation tissue should be treated when it first appears. It first showed up last week, so off we went to see the Home Nutrition nurse at Children's for our teaching session on how to treat it at home. It's not nice...you pretty much burn it off using silver nitrate sticks. First you paint the healthy skin all around the g-tube with vaseline to protect it. Then you use what looks like a long match stick (silver nitrate) and touch the tip of it to the granulation tissue. This causes a chemical reaction, the tissue turns grey right away (as it starts to burn), and eventually becomes black. The treatment can be repeated every 3 days until the treated tissue dries up and falls off. Treatment is complete when this occurs.

Treatment supplies

Granulation tissue - before treatment

Granulation tissue - grey in colour immediately after treatment

Taylor's first treatment was last Wednesday by the Home Nutrition nurse, it dried up and fell off the next day. Unfortunately it's back, and we had to treat it today. I hope this isn't going to be a regular thing. It's quite awful to have Taylor screaming in pain and know that you're the one inflicting it.

While we're on the g-tube topic...

We asked Marissa what she'd think about having a doll with a g-tube that she could feed just like Taylor does (I saw this idea on a tube feeding website). She was crazy excited about this idea and surgery couldn't take place fast enough! Marissa selected which doll she wanted to have surgery, geared up in her hospital scrubs, put on a mask and with assistance from Daddy and his power drill, surgery was a success! We didn't have a spare g-tube to use, but we managed to get our hands on a foley catheter. Don't ask how...we are sworn to secrecy. It is a balloon device much like the g-tube. After the hole was drilled, Marissa inserted the tube and used a syringe with 10mL of water to inflate the balloon so that it can't be pulled out. Dr. Dengis was very thorough...she scrubbed in, wore a mask, made sure the environment was sterile, checked the baby's blood pressure and heart rate, and had the very best bedside manner once surgery was complete and baby was in recovery. What a riot! Anyways, Marissa is beside herself with her special new doll, and has affectionately named her Taylor. She's proudly showing 'Taylor' off to everyone, including her friends at preschool this morning!

Enjoyed coffee with my friend Carol on Friday morning while the little ones played. Marissa and Liam managed to escape being captured by the camera. Taylor, Annika and Emmett, however, couldn't hide from the paparazzi. Emmett is nine months now and commando crawls across the room faster than a speeding bullet! He's the happiest little guy and so darn cute. Taylor and Annika kept very close together on the floor as they always do, little kindred spirits they are...

Well, that's a wrap, night all!