M – I – C . . . . K – E – Y . . . . MOUSE. How many times in your life have you sang those letters. Every time you do, thoughts of a fun place and time come to mind. Watching Wonderful World of Disney on the television; Disney cartoons in the movie theater before the show; and maybe a visit to the Magic Kingdom itself, the Walt Disney Company is known worldwide but I didn’t know they made medical devices.

After her feeding tube debacle and a few weeks of dealing with a temporary feeding tube, Suzanne finally got her permanent feeding tube last Monday with a new and more modern MIC-KEY . Yea, your right, It’s not made by the Disney Corporation, but the MIC-KEY gastrostomy feeding tube is a low-profile port that doesn’t interfere with daily life as much as traditional feeding tubes do. So now, Suzanne doesn’t have to deal with tubes under her clothes when she goes out in public, a huge benefit.

I searched and searched for an hour and never was able to find out why it’s called the MIC-KEY or what the initials stood for. All I know is it’s been a lot easier talking about Suzanne’s feedings now. It just sounds more fun saying MIC-KEY rather than a feeding tube or G-Tube. It just makes you feel more joyful.

As an update on her progress to being able to eat by mouth. During the later part of August and most of September, Suzanne suffered from allergies and postnasal drip. For you and me, that isn’t a big issue other than swallowing gunk a little more, but for Suzanne, that extra mucus in the back of her throat caused major issues when swallowing the way she has to. Unfortunately, it set her back a few weeks as eating by mouth became almost impossible.

This past week she has made great strides toward eating more again. She is probably back to the point she was in late July taking in about 60% of her calories by mouth. Today, as an example, she ate her entire lunch by mouth. (applause hands emoji)

Learning what she can eat is another challenge. You would think that good old Mott’s Applesauce would work just fine. Nope, when it gets in her mouth the juice runs out and she’s left with a pile of pulp she can’t do anything with. Home-made mashed potatoes & gravy work fine but KFC potatoes and gravy, no way. Even the brand of milkshakes at fast food places makes a difference. Sonic’s milkshakes are a zero on the Suzanne scale. Their shakes are whipped into a pile of fluff that’s like putting a spoon full of marshmallow cream in her mouth.

From a trial and error standpoint, the food she eats has to be about the consistency of maple syrup and completely emulsified into one congenial substance. What’s interesting is how some foods are able to be blended with her hand emulsion blender and others aren’t. She has been very successful with Campbells Soups but not much luck with Progresso soups. We haven’t figured out why for sure, it’s just the way it is.

So I keep searching for the foods I think will work and she keeps trying to see if she can swallow them. Needless to say, her perseverance should be an inspiration to us all.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

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