Fontan Day 10: June 9th 10:00 am

124.  That was his sodium level this morning after blood draw.  Caden was at 122 yesterday so we are thankful for the small increase but it's not enough to stabilize him for us to go home.  At rounds this morning the doctor's discussed his diuretics/fluid intake/food intake finding a balance etc.  It seems so simple, but yet it's so complex and complicated to find the right combination to help his sodium levels but keep the fluid off his chest.  So we pray for more of an increase in his sodium levels tomorrow so doctor's can see a trend and Caden is stable enough for us to go home soon.

Since we don't have much to report today I wanted to tell everyone about the Beads of Courage.  A program that was started in 2004  by a pediatric nurse who wanted to honor and recognize the journey children go through while battling a serious illness.  The program allows children to tell their story through colorful bead, each recognizing acts of courage, milestones, and achievments along their path.  Now this program is in over 100 children's hospitals.    The beads allow kids to record, tell, and own their own stories of courage.    This program was just started this year thanks to the Wings of Angels Endowment.  We thank Chris and Michelle Buchmann for starting this program.

The beads are beautiful, hand-crafted, and each bead represents something so it is like a journal on a string.  Caden enjoys his beads….thanks again Chris and Michelle for starting this at CHW on 3West.

Love you all - Melissa and David.

The larger glass beads are discharge beads.  The 3 times Caden was discharged from the hospital (a huge milestone)

Wings of Angels Bead, his name, the heart (heart patient), and CICU bead (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit)

                                                 Caden wearing his courage beads.