Yesterday, I was able to talk with the doctor's office that Burke had his recent surgery through and they got back the test results from the swabbing of his bronchus (which are his airways leading to his lungs). They tested them to see if there were any food residue from either aspirating food as he ate it or from aspirating it as he refluxed it. I don't know if refluxed is even a word- it sounds kinda funny. Anyways, there was no trace of aspiration at all in his airways!! I was so thrilled and relieved when they told me that because if there w
as, he might have been put back on a feeding tube if he was aspirating what he ate. They could have fixed the reflux issue with medicines but I was thrilled to say the least that it was neither of those two issues.
Well, what is it then you ask? I asked as well. Burke tested positive for the Haemophilus Influenzae also known as the H flu or HIB! There is a vaccine for this type of flu and I know Burke received it but he still was able to catch it. The H flu is a bacteria causing inflammation in his airways causing obstructions. It can also cause ear infections, pneumonia and many other upper respiratory issues along with the more dangerous meningitis! If you go to that link above it defines the type of flu it is and the symptoms and so forth. I just read it and I can't believe it, it is totally what Burke has had probably since February! Burke got really sick way back near the end of February with a bad cough that lingered and eventually turned into pneumonia. He was put on a 10 day dose of antibiotics yet he still didn't get all the way better for another 6 weeks. He was finally getting better when he got it again. This lasted on and off literally until June. All our previous doctors in Arizona just called it bronchialitis (sp?) - which he probably had as well but he was never cured of the actual problem that caused all his upper respiratory issues.
It wasn't until we got back to our old doctors here in Idaho that we really figured out a plan to find and fix Burke's respiratory issues. I am so grateful for our ENT Dr. Beck (she is the woman in the center of the picture on her website- she is AMAZING!) who felt it was necessary to do the bronc and to really find the problem. He will now be on antibiotics for three weeks and hopefully that will rid his body and airways of the infectious disease. If for some reason he still has issues after the dose of antibiotics is done then the doctor will re-evaluate and figure out a plan from there. I am really hopeful that the antibiotics will help take care of the H flu and get Burke back to a normal healthy life!
Alright here is the part you have been waiting for. Pictures. The picture below is during his surgery when Dr. Beck performed the broncoscopy. She scoped his airways and found this nasty inflamed airways that are very narrowed. The circle drawn in on the left bronchus picture is how big the airway is supposed to be.
These two pictures below are of Burke's tongue one or two days after surgery. We were getting a little worried about the swelling of his tongue, but with some help of some steroids and some time it eventually got better. Look at the size of that thing. And if you notice the tip of his tongue is turned to the left side of his mouth. Isn't that gross? You can see the stitches as it goes almost to the tip of his tongue. 
This one has bad lighting but this is the underneath side of his tongue. He just went through the meat grinder man.
The poor little guy could barely eat or drink with that huge swollen tongue in his mouth! He adapted pretty well and ate regardless. He is doing better and better everyday and he is almost back to his normal active self!
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