9 PM Update: The Swallow Stuggle…It has taken me all afternoon to process and really think about the swallow study. The results weren’t what we had hoped for, and that is difficult. To be honest, I didn’t really expect to see huge changes, but it’s impossible not to get swept up in the HOPE of progress. There IS progress. Just not as much as we hoped and prayed we would see. Caitlin can cough and clear her airway pretty well now, so that is a big win. The problem is that she is still dealing with intermittent lack of sensation, so she doesn’t always feel when liquids are going into the airway. With thicker substances, she is still struggling to move them to the back of her mouth and form all of the necessary motions to complete the swallow. 

So for now, she will continue to be NPO, and we will keep working hard to strengthen her muscles. We take the positive, and grasp tightly to the improvements we did see. 

Thank you. We deeply appreciate your words and prayers. Onward!

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻We are about to begin the swallow study! Both of Caitlin’s SLPs are in the room with her as well. We are thankful to have such loving, giving people surrounding us today and every day. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

(I forgot to take a picture of her, so here is a butterfly that was in the backyard yesterday) ☺️🦋