{Brave Ben}

Our sweet Ben is in the ICU at Texas Children's. He has bronchiolitis and his body is not handling it well. We brought him to the ER on Friday night due to labored breathing where they treated him by suctioning his naval cavity. His conditioned improved and we were discharged at about 2 am. By the next morning, he seemed to be laboring again. We watched him over the day and saline/suctioned him. Saturday night/Sunday morning he started becoming lethargic, wasn't eating well, vomited, showed signs of dehydration and his breath count started to rise. We brought him back to the ER where the doctors tried 4 different treatments on him to improve his condition. At this point his breaths were 100 per minute (normal is 20-30). They decided to sedate and incubate him as his body was tiring out and it was becoming a dangerous situation. They moved him to the ICU which is where we are now with him. Now we give him time to fight the virus with his body not in distress since the machines are breathing for him. He is getting antibiotics, pain medication and breathing treatments as well. We are hoping that in a few days we can start weening him off the ventilator and talk about him coming home.

This has been one of the hardest, most frightening days I have ever experienced. I ask that you keep our brave Ben in your prayers tonight and over the next few days. We hope that he heals and is able to come home soon.