Lung Checkup

Two and a half years ago, Andrew's lung intake capacity was about 60 percent. A month ago, in a checkup at Children's, it was 90 percent. I took him Thursday for another checkup with his pulminologist and it was 105 percent, 5 percent higher than average for someone his age.

The right middle lobe is still collapsed, but the doctor said he could live with that very healthy forever. Scar tissue has closed the opening. A procedure to repair it is an option, but the doctor said scar tissue from the procedure itself could close it again. His advice was to watch it. Maybe it'll open back up, maybe it won't if it doesn't, that's okay.

He took him off the asthma inhaler he's used for two years, to use it only if he has an asthma attack or other breathing problems. He's staying on the steroid inhaler, however, at least until the spring. If he does not have pneumonia or other respiratory problems this winter, he'll come off the steroids. That would be the ultimate–to know he can make it through a winter with no big problems.

Great, relieving report.

He also finished Harry Potter on the way back from Little Rock. It was a good day.