An Update on Gabriel-Athan

Gabriel went to his GI appointment today and he is almost at 12lbs. He is about 3% height and weight for his age. The positive is that he is growing within his own curve. They broke the news to us that the G-tube and Nissen surgery is most probably going to happen within the next month. We have to schedule an appointment to see the surgeon. While he is growing and taking some bottle feeds by mouth, the severe reflux and slow progress make the surgery inevitable.

We even got todrop in to the NICU and visit with some of the doctors and nurses in the NICU today. They are such wonderful people and it made them happy to see him progressing so well.

Enjoy the pics that we took of Gabriel and Demetra the other day.

Getting Bigger Day...by...Day

Gabriel Athan weighs 9 pounds 4 ounces at his doctor's appointment yesterday. He is still on continuous feeds of fortified breast milk (1 Ounce per hour) for 21 hours. He is taking about 5cc twice a day from the bottle. His reflux is still very bad though. Hopefully I will be able to get some pics up this weekend.

Gabriel is Home Again!!!

Gabriel was released from the hospital yesterday (May 1st, 2008.) He is currently home and resting. He is still on continuous feeds with a three hour break during the day. Hopefully this little stay in the hospital was his last. We are all glad to have him home.

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and prayers.

Kostaridis Family

Gabriel Is still in the hospital

Gabriel has really bad acid reflux and they are trying to get it under control by giving him Previcid and Reglyn. It still gets him very agitated. Just imagine how much we as adults suffer with a bit of "heartburn" his is probably 10 times worse. They have him on continuous feeds with a three of hours of "break" during the day.

Hopefully they will let us go home by the end of the week.

Stay tuned for some updated photos.

Gabriel is back in the Hospital

Gabriel was having difficulties with his bottle feeds so last Thurs (4/10) we stopped feeding him by bottle and were using on the NG-tube. However his reflux was getting worse and he was having "episodes" of discomfort that would last over an hour at times. When he wasn't having these "episodes" he was doing just fine. He is gaining weight (7lbs 10oz) but his "episodes" are getting worse. Upon his visit to the GI doctor they witnessed one of his "episodes" and he immediately admitted to the hospital for observation.

He is currently on Previcid to help his Acid Reflux which everyone believes is the underlining cause of all his discomfort.

Gabriel Athan Comes Home

Gabriel Athan was discharged from the hospital on Friday April 4th, 2008 at 10:30am. He spent his first night at home sleeping in Mommy & Daddy's bedside. Although it was quite uneventful for him...Mom & Dad barely got any sleep. Thankfully Demi slept the whole night, she woke up at 7:00am asking to see Baby Gabriel. He is currently feeding every 3hours approximately 2ounces (65ccs.) That's 8 times a day!!! Four or five times a day we try to give him a bottle but he only manages to get half way through (30-40 ccs) before he gets tired. The rest of his feedings are done with a nose tube (NG-tube)

We are blessed to have him home with us so much earlier than initially expected and at such a healthy state. We would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at NYC Columbia-Presbyterian Children's Hospital for the care and support they provided to our family.