Arden Goes Outside!
Today we ventured out onto our back deck for a little bit of pre-spring sunshine! This was the first time that Arden has spent any time outside besides making the quick trip to and from the car for our medical appointments.
When it’s cold out, Arden can’t spend much time outside. When we’re inside, his vent is hooked up to a humidifier. The humidifier ensures that the air going straight into his trachea is warm and moist. For people who breathe typically, the nose makes sure that the air we are breathing is warmed and humidified before it reaches our lungs. When we’re outside and away from his home setup, Arden has to use an inline HME (Heat Moisture Exchange) on his circuit. This works okay, but it doesn’t do the same job that the humidifier does. He still has to breath the air from the environment, meaning that if it’s cold out, that freezing air is going straight into his airway without being warmed by his nose (like ours does). Unfortunately, this means that we’ve been pretty house-bound this winter. We are definitely looking forward to warmer temperatures and more time spent outdoors!
Although today’s trip outside was short lived and took a lot of work, it was worth the experience! Our little man got to try out something new, go outside of his comfort zone (and mine), and breathe some fresh outdoor air. Fresh air and a little Vitamin D are good for the soul! I think it was great for both of us!
XO, Rayel
