Kintropy In Action

At 2 am, Hannah was lying tummy-down in her bed.  Post trach removal, this position helps keep her tongue in a non-occluding position while she sleeps.  Her O2 saturations were good; her heartrate, a little high, but tolerable.  I could hear some catch in her breaths, but she was certainly sleeping safely.  However, The Pillow was missing.

"Can you help me position her?" I asked Janette.  "She needs The Pillow."

Janette retrieved The Pillow from the floor.  To some, it looks like an everyday pillow wrapped in a blue with yellow stars pillowcase.  To me, it is The Pillow That Helps The Princess Sleep, The Pillow That Prevents Poor Sleep Crankiness, The Pillow That Helps Her Sleep Beyond 3 a.m.  It is The Pillow.

"She was sleeping fine," Janette added as we repositioned Hannah, tucking the pillow under her stomach, letting her head pop up over the pillow onto the wedge-graded bed.

Fine?  "She needs her Pillow," I said.

"I think she was doing okay on her own.  She napped fine today without any oxygen even."

"She... needs... her... Pillow."

I turned on the humidifier and adjusted Hannah's position.  Then readjusted Hannah's position.  Then readjusted her again.  Janette stepped back, not wanting to be the fall-person if all the repositioning woke Hannah.  In a few minutes, Janette and I met in the office to complete the Hannah handoff, but The Pillow hung between us:  a non-allergenic puff of soft, downy conflict.

Janette filled me in on both kids' bedtimes, medicines given, food status.  I listened, but my mind was still on The Pillow.

You see, there are two schools of thought in the house currently:  we'll call them the Declaration of Independence and The Pillow Princess schools.  The Delcaration of Independence is the only do-as-much-as-necessary school.  Allow Hannah to figure out as much on her own as possible about sleep positions.  Only intevene if her body is not tolerating it well and only enough to help her chart her own course again. 

The Pillow Princess school says independence is good and will be learned over time, but comfort is Queen.  Help Hannah get into a comfortable position:  whatever that takes.  If she is breathing well (no occlusion sound), she will rest well.  This will help her heal faster and help her learn the right sleeping position(s) gradually.

In truth, both overlap, but tonight they seemed diametrically opposed.  Janette was firmly on the side of the Delcaration of Independence; I, the Pillow Princess.

During our update, I tried to explain my position again.  "She sounded occluded.  The Pillow makes her more comfortable, and she sleeps better."

"Some of that sound is okay.  It's the same sound you make when you sleep."

Oh-kay, this was the Conversation to Nowhere Good at 2 a.m..  Janette and I agreed to disagree, we kissed, and she headed to bed.

I returned to Hannah's room and repositioned her over The Pillow again.  Hannah smiled in her sleep (which I happily accepted as agreeement with my viewpoint).  She settled into a nice, clean breathing rhythm, and I thanked The Pillow. 

The Pillow is good.  The Pillow is All Powerful.

-- Dad