Deciding about Home Ventilation
Some of their children are alive, some passed away. Each family made a loving decision. Imagine yourself in their shoes as you consider what is right for your child.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure: A machine that helps a person breathe by pushing air, and sometimes oxygen, through a mask. Straps keep the mask in place on the face.
Palliative care aims to reduce a child’s pain or discomfort. Palliative care also helps families consider what is most important to them. Palliative care specialists provide an extra layer of support for children with serious illness and their families.
Chayton is 6 years old and uses a feeding tube and wheelchair because of muscle weakness. His parents did not want him to go through the surgery for a trach. He has been able to use BiPAP to help him breathe at home with his Mom, Dad, and older brothers.
Chayton is 6 years old and uses a feeding tube and wheelchair because of muscle weakness. His parents did not want him to go through the surgery for a trach. He has been able to use BiPAP to help him breathe at home with his Mom, Dad, and older brothers.
Vivian is 4 years old, and had heart surgery as a baby. Then she got pneumonia when she was 2 years old, and couldn’t leave the hospital without a trach and ventilator. Her Mom and Dad wanted her home, and learned to take care of her home vent.
Vivian is 4 years old, and had heart surgery as a baby. Then she got pneumonia when she was 2 years old, and couldn’t leave the hospital without a trach and ventilator. Her Mom and Dad wanted her home, and learned to take care of her home vent.
Ashley’s parents knew before she was born that she would have many serious health problems, including trouble breathing. Morgan and Matt were given options by their medical team. They knew Ashley’s life would be short, even with a ventilator. They chose to take her home with hospice care. Ashley died at home with her family when she was 3 months old.
Ashley’s parents knew before she was born that she would have many serious health problems, including trouble breathing. Morgan and Matt were given options by their medical team. They knew Ashley’s life would be short, even with a ventilator. They chose to take her home with hospice care. Ashley died at home with her family when she was 3 months old.
Devin is 8 years old and has cerebral palsy and scoliosis. He uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube. When he started to have trouble breathing, not everyone agreed about doing the trach and home ventilator. But his mom believed it was the best thing for Devin. Her aunt helps her care for him at home.
Devin is 8 years old and has cerebral palsy and scoliosis. He uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube. When he started to have trouble breathing, not everyone agreed about doing the trach and home ventilator. But his mom believed it was the best thing for Devin. Her aunt helps her care for him at home.
Ruby was born prematurely and her lungs didn’t fully develop. After being sick for months in the hospital, her parents decided that a home ventilator was not right for Ruby and would not work for their family. She was removed from the hospital ventilator and she died in her father’s arms.
Miguel was born prematurely with very fragile lungs. When he was 6 months old his parents chose to for him to have a trach and home vent so he could leave the hospital sooner. He is 9 months old now, and lives with his Mom, Dad, and very active older brother.
Miguel was born prematurely with very fragile lungs. When he was 6 months old his parents chose to for him to have a trach and home vent so he could leave the hospital sooner. He is 9 months old now, and lives with his Mom, Dad, and very active older brother.
Ruby was born prematurely and her lungs didn’t fully develop. After being sick for months in the hospital, her parents decided that a home ventilator was not right for Ruby and would not work for their family. She was removed from the hospital ventilator and she died in her father’s arms.
A machine that helps a person breathe by pushing air, and sometimes oxygen, through a tube in the throat. This is sometimes called a “breathing machine.”
A tube that goes through the throat and into the airway. A ventilator can be hooked up to a tracheostomy.