Hi Everyone,
We have a happy surprise to tell you. Not that we’ve been holding out on you but…
The past two months Corey’s been working on swallowing thins. This is the last step before she gets her feeding tube removed. This morning she had a comprehensive video swallow study.
Dr. Brooks has been with Corey since her first study. She was always amazed with the prior tests but this morning when she saw Corey for the first time since March, she was shocked at how great she looked. Corey wasn’t speaking in full sentences when we saw her last. She was blown away by the young woman that sat in front of her.
We were lucky to have Diane (our original Speech Therapist) with us for the test. Diane hadn’t seen Corey since April. I reminded Corey that Diane was the person that taught her to speak again. Diane was thrilled to hold a conversation with Corey!
Corey sits in a chair sandwiched in a large x-ray machine. A television is placed in front of her with a live skeletal picture of her head and neck. Diane mixes barium in assorted foods. She hands the samples to me and I, in turn, prepare the appropriate size portion to hand to Corey. Corey feeds herself and we watch the x-ray TV as she moves the food to the back of the throat and then we watch her swallow. The x-ray captures any residual food that doesn’t “go down the right pipe”.
First was Honey thick liquid on a spoon.
Second; a graham cracker dipped in the barium.
Third taste test; fruit cocktail on a spoon.
Fourth sample; Nectar liquid ~ a syrup like consistency.
Fifth; thins on a teaspoon. Corey then has to drink from a cup and the grand finale; sip through a straw. She passed all levels!
We are not going to rush to take the feeding tube out just yet. She has to increase her liquid intake to 64oz/day. So far she’s at 20 – 24 oz. We need the tube for hydration only at this point because the 2nd piece to this achievement is ~ Corey has been taking her medications crushed in yogurt for a few weeks. Surprise #3 the last two days she has successfully swallowed smaller pills by mouth with a water chaser!! This is a MAJOR, MAJOR accomplishment!
Congratulations Corey…that tube is next to go! So happy of you, xoxo