She is 39lbs and in 4T pajamas.
She's in the hospital for refeeding syndrome, caused by severe malnutrition in her former orphanage.
Her stomach is the size of a young infant's. She cannot tolerate more than 1.8oz of formula in an hour. We are not even halfway to her goal caloric intake.
To go home we need to get to goal on continuous feeds, and then shorten /condense it into 5 bolus feeds per day. We're told not to plan our departure anytime in the near future.
Milena is now on an IV as well, 15ml output in a 24 hour period just wasn't cutting it.
The Wisconsin Badgers came to visit us yesterday, poor guys were not warmly welcomed by Milena. They said we could take a picture with them but Milena wanted no part of getting near some giant football players, so a poster sufficed.
Nothing else overly exciting. I'm battling some serious anger toward the people that let her deteriorate into this condition.
I feel like I'm being suffocated by my own emotions.
And here we sit....
One day we'll go home!
how would you explain they survive in their country and suddenly deteriorate. (She isn't the first one I hear about)
ReplyDeleteSeems so strange...
I pray for a lot of patience for you. She is getting alot of mummy time. Something she really needs too !
Don't be sorry, it's a great and valid question!
DeleteThe human body is an amazing thing, and when it goes without something important for too long it tries to compensate for that need and Milena's labs looked great when we first got home, the labs didn't reflect that of a child with severe dehydration or malnutrition at all. But when you take a child with malnutrition and neglect, and provide adequate nutrition and hydration, it's sends the body into overdrive and the body has no idea how up process it. With refeeding syndrome, the potassium, phosphates, and magnesium are watched very closely and supplements are given to counter balance the spike or drop in any metabolic shift. The body has no idea how to process adequate nutrition, it is stuck in survival/starvation mode. It's a fine line of bringing them hope and wanting to provide the very best and knowing that the very best and recognizing that tge very best is far away from what they can currently tolerate.
And it's not just the orphan population, refeeding syndrome is watched very closely among those with anorexia as well, same thing, starvation and the body works to compensate so it goes into shock when it receives quality nutrition again.
Milena's goal intake for her height and weight is a bare minimum of 1,359 calories. Based in everything we know, the nutrition team in combination with many other people, came to the conclusion that her normal caloric intake over the last several years was likely no more than 250 calories.....not enough to do much more than survive. We have worked up to 650 calories per day now, but it's going to be a very SLOWWW process making it to out goal caloric intake.
I really hope that answered your question, if you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Thank you ! You explained it very well !
ReplyDeleteNow I understand why this happens !
I will be praying for Milena, that she can enjoy a happy life with a loving family.
I will pray for you because for a young mum with so much to do...
I hope you can relax !
In a selfish way... You were able to answer my question ! ;)
So is this similar to starvation when u cant let a person eaat right aawaay as its daangerous? Oddly i felt what aa bonding experience the hospitaal perhaaps like the orphanage perhaaps faamiliar? But leaarning THIS plaace haas aa loving aangel mommy. Perhaaps God is eaasing her in. Hang in there momma id be mad for her to
ReplyDelete