What I Need You To Know During Feeding Tube Awareness Week
I entered the world of special needs when my son was three months old.
He is a twin and his brother also has special needs, they were premature.
Lucas developed an airway disorder called Laryngomalacia when he was a few weeks old.
When this happens, you can hear your baby breathing from across the room. They also can turn blue and stop breathing. They may also require oxygen and other life saving measures.
It can be terrifying.
We figured out at 3 months from tests, that he was aspirating his bottles.
The tech said, “he needs to be admitted tonight for a feeding tube placement”.
I looked at my husband in pure panic and he looked at me confused. This is not what we expected to happen that afternoon, at our state’s children’s hospital. We thought we could thicken his bottles and he would start to thrive.
Nope.
Lucas started out with an NG tube (Nasal-gastric Tube). It is a tube running through the nose to the stomach to give him formula. After 3 months, he was placed with a G-Tube in his stomach.
It saved his life and we didn’t even know it.
I thank God every day that my son was able to receive his feeding tube. It has helped him grow for the past 3 years into the sweet little boy that he is today.
There is a misconception that a feeding tube is needed because an individual can’t eat.
While that part can be true for some, it’s also used because a person can’t eat ENOUGH.
They may also need help giving them enough water to survive.
Sometimes an individual has had a stroke and can’t chew, or they have hypotonia (low muscle tone) in the muscles of the mouth.
The reasons and need for a feeding tube are endless. But they all share the same purpose, to help GIVE back life.
February 8th-12th, 2021 is Feeding Tube Awareness Week.
If you have a family member with a feeding tube, please do us a favor, accept what is.
Know things will happen when they are meant to and our children are perfect just the way they are.
Written by, Annie Smith
My name is Annie Smith. I’m a stay at home momma to three children. I have a 4 year old daughter and twin 3 year old boys. You can follow our journey on Facebook at Raising Different Disabilities. I explain and share awareness of my twin’s disabilities. Lucas has Cerebral Palsy, a feeding tube, Speech Apraxia, ADHD and an Airway Disorder. Jameson, his twin, has severe nonverbal Autism. God is a major part of our journey.
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