Vance’s Weekly Update
Vance seems to be much more comfortable on the NIPPV. He seems to prefer it over the breathing tube, as his oxygen saturation levels have been much more stable—whereas before, they could be all over the place at times. He is still receiving a lot of support from the NIPPV, but overall, he’s adjusting well.
The doctors attempted to switch him to weekly labs, but unfortunately, his CO2 levels came back high this morning. Because of that, they increased his pressure settings on the ventilator and will be monitoring him closely, meaning more frequent labs instead of weekly checks. We’re hopeful that the adjustments help him clear out that extra CO2 so he can keep progressing forward.
In exciting news, our big boy officially hit 4 pounds last Wednesday! This milestone came with some big changes. When preemies reach 4 pounds, they can begin transitioning out of their isolettes. The team gave Vance a 24-hour trial with the top of his isolette popped to see if he could maintain his body temperature on his own, and he passed with flying colors! Because he did so well, he officially graduated to an open crib!
With his new crib and exposure to open air, the team recommended moving him to a private room in the NICU to minimize overstimulation from all the lights and noises. We got him all settled into his new space, which we’ve lovingly named "Vance’s Villa," and hung up all of his artwork to make it feel like home. So far, he’s loving it! Another exciting perk of hitting the 4-pound mark—we were finally able to start dressing him in clothes! Seeing him all snuggled up in little outfits has been so special.
Vance has another eye exam this Wednesday. His last two have been stable, but we’ve been told that between 33-37 weeks gestation is when the eye vessels develop the most. Because he was born so early, he is at a higher risk for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), which is improper eye development that can affect preemies, especially those who needed oxygen therapy early on. Since he is at such high risk, he will continue to have weekly eye exams. If the condition ever progresses to a higher stage, he may need eye injections as treatment, but for now, we are taking it one step at a time.
We are so proud of how far Vance has come and continue to be amazed by his strength! As always, we are so grateful for all of your love, prayers, and support. Please keep them coming as our little fighter keeps growing and making strides every day! 💙✨
