Timeline

December 2, 2007 Dakota was born at Loyola. 8 hours later Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Ground Transport Team arrived to take him to Children’s Memorial NICU.

December 4th 2007. Dakota was put on ECMO (temporary heart/lung bypass machine). For 9 days.

December 13th 2007 one Day after being off ECMO. Dakota was fighting for his life, The doctors did not think he was going to make it. They Put him back on the oscillator, while giving him a medicine that opened the Duct in his heart to help with the pulmonary hypertension (severe pressure in his chest)

December 31st 2007. Dakota was stronger and he had lost all the extra fluid he had on him (due to coming off ECMO)

1-3-2008. Dakota has his CDH repair. ( Thank you Doctor Chin) you saved our son’s life!!

1-08-08 Cody’s been doing really good, he has a feeding tube now and also is doing most of the breathing On his own with the back up of the ventilator. Still baby steps

1-11-08 I got to hold Dakota for the 1st time He has had the arterial lines in his neck removed and the one in his right hand removed. ( from ECMO)
1-14-08 1st try off the ventilator.
1-24-08 2nd try off the ventilator.
2-14-08 This is the 3rd time off the ventilator, he did nothing but, fight the doctors and nurses. It took 2 Nurses to hold his arms and legs still while they put the C-pap in his nose This time it did not go so well, He only lasted a hour and they had to put back the ventilator in his mouth.
1-29-08 Cody has been removed from the heating bed To a Crib
2-20.2008 They found out he had floppy airways called Tracheomalacia and Bronchomalacia
2-21-08 Dakota got Tracheotomy trach
3-27-08 ventilator’s changed. Dakota put on the LTV1150
4-3-08 Dakota moved to the 9th floor transitions unit “next step to coming home”
4-2008- 6-2008
From there we had a lot of learning how to take care of Dakota in order for him to be able to come home.
Changing his Trach ties, Trach changes weekly ( alone) how to suction him though the trach,
The settings on the ventilator, changing the vent tubing monthly, How to transport Dakota, NG placement , pump feeds and giving medicines though feeding tube. C.P.R. Class.

Before Dakota could come home he had to be able to tolerate peep settings on his vent being changed.
BIG STEP’S ( vent)
(peep) starting at 10.
Went to 9 on 6-15-08
Went to 8 6-17-08
Went to 7 6-26-08
Went to 6 7-1-08
7-30-2008 Cody started eating baby food 3 times a day ( 30 cc’s) and getting to drink from a sippy cup. 3 times a day. ( only 10 cc’s at a time)
9-3-2008 After nine months and one day, waiting for Dakota to finely get to come home.. No more driving the 80 mile round trip was over..
12-2-2008 Dakota turned 1 years old.
From 11-3-2008- 2-2009 Dakota kept getting sick and running fevers.
Turns out each time he had a Trach infection called Tracheitis. This is just something that happens and has nothing to do his care, The doctors had to tell me each time.
2-12-2009 Dakota started saying MaMa

2-28-2009 Dakota had a bronc and found out his Tracheomalacia and Bronchomalacia is GONE! He no longer has The floppy airways.
March 16th, 2009 Dakota got to wean off the vent for the 1st time. 15 mins. A day.
April 3rd, 2009 off the vent for 30 mins. A day!!
May 20 2009 half hour in the morning and a half hour in the afternoon.
May 28th, 2009 Hour in the morning and a hour in the afternoon..
August 7th, 2009 Mic-key button and Fundoplication surgery ( no more NG)
8-27-09 Reglan stopped
9-3-09 Dakota 1st year Anniversary being home..
10-15-09 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. Off vent!

November 9th, 2009 walking and talking Ma MOM Ma” , its the sweetest thing in the world. He calls daddy, DeDA and (sounds AEHA, & lAlA)( talking with no PMV on trach)
March -2010 Dakota off the vent all hours during the day Exept for naps and over night
June 2010: Pulmonary Doctors gave ok for Dakota to wean off the vent during naps
October 2010: Dakota taken off vent !!! No vent during night while sleeping.
December 2010: Dakota’s Trach removed .
January 2011: Dakota in Children’s for R.S.V. ( he did great with out the trach)
April 2011: Dakota’s stoma closed .
April 2011: Dakota started eating and drinking like crazy.
Summer 2011: Dakota swimming in pools, being outside much more due to NO trach.. Going to park with Mikala just about everyday.
October 2011: Dakota weaned him self off the pump, He started drinking all his Pediasure by sippy cup, so the pump has not been needed at night. he also, eats like crazy all day.
October 2011: One year vent free
November 2011: Pulmonary Doctor’s take Dakota off Viagra!!
December 2011: trach free one year!!
1-25-2012.. Home nursing for Dakota has ends..
Since last year, Dakota has only had 2 small colds. no stays in the hospital.
((GOAL))

March 2012. Dakota has ECMO clinic. we hope theres plans for removal of mic-key button..

Dakota