Clinic was a mixed bag. On one hand, he is so much better now. His chest sounds good, he is still coughing and productive, but he no longer sounds like he is breathing through treacle. He absolutely aced lung function - and for that we are so so glad. He surprised us all.
However, the bronchoscopy results that continue to creep in have revealed that he does have a new bacteria growing in his lungs - along with the PseudomonasA (bastard bacteria) and the Aspergillus (flagitious fungus) that we know already reside in his precious lungs - this bug is known as a Non-TB-Mycobacterium (NTM, a cousin of tuberculosis) - but there are many strains, one being much worse than the others. Until we know for sure which strain it is, there is nothing we can do, crucially (and terrifyingly) some are multi-drug-resistant. All of this information twirls and bounces around my mind and stops me sleeping.
We are also preparing for surgery on Monday - to remove the Polyps growing in his nose and widen his airways. This should just be day surgery. Isaac will have IV antibiotics throughout, to help prevent his bugs having a little party down there while he is weakened by the general anaesthetic, and they will likely bronch him again while he is under, to hoover out more mucous to test further for the NTM. I'm packing an overnight bag just in case! I don't think he is aware yet quite how rubbish he is going to feel when he wakes up, poor kid - super sore throat and a punch in the nose.
Have a great weekend guys. Here are some very cool pictures:
