On Thursday, Aiden was put on nasal canula oxygen and on Friday was moved to the South Hall of the NICU, in the same room with Ethan and Evan again for the first time in a while. He seemed to be doing well yesterday, but we rec’d a call from the hospital early this morning telling us that Aiden has developed a serious condition called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
NEC is a gastrointestinal disease that mostly affects premature infants. NEC is caused by air becoming trapped in the wall of the bowel, and involves infection and inflammation that causes destruction of the bowel (intestine) or part of the bowel. NEC can result in perforation of the bowel or peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal wall), in which case immediate surgery would be required. If it does lead to surgery, it is extremely concerning as there is an even higher mortality rate. There are many other possible complications and side effects that can be caused by this condition; however, we know that God is the great physician and can heal his little body before it ever reaches this point if it is His will.
They have moved Aiden back to the North Hall of the NICU and the doctors have stopped feeding him and started antibiotics. They will be taking x-rays of his abdomen every 6 hours and doing blood tests on a regular basis to monitor his condition, and will likely have to re-intubate him and put him back on the ventilator. Please pray for him.
