Lucas - SAFE AT HOME | Home health care touches all the bases

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About Lucas:

Born: 2001

Diagnosis:

Down Syndrome, Hirschprung's Disease, short bowel syndrome

Challenge:

Getting enough nutrition, fighting off infection, avoiding liver failure

Solution:

PHS manages nutrition through TPN, enteral and limited oral feedings, does lab draws, conducts assessments and works on infection control education with all caregivers

"When Lucas is having a tough time, I call PHS first. They have trained me to know what to look for and coached me about how to better care for my son."
- Lucas' mom, Julie

Life expectancy: 24 hours

At just six days old, Lucas had surgery to remove most of his large intestine. At four months old, he required more surgery to remove a large portion of his small intestine. He was in critical condition and there was doubt he would live more than 24 hours.

Significant life changes

Even if he survived, doctors predicted his liver would fail within a year once TPN feedings began, yet he needed TPN to survive.

"PHS met us at the hospital when we first took Lucas home," his mom Julie explains. PHS helped her prepare the house and achieve consistent care.

Fewer infections

Lucas needs a central IV line to survive, yet it also caused infections at least once a month. So PHS started Lucas on an ethanol lock that cleans the lines. It basically eliminated infections and has kept him out of the hospital for more than a year.

Real food, real fun

Today, Lucas is a relatively healthy, thriving boy who goes to school, loves pirates, video games and playing on his Miracle League baseball team. He eats real food, including cheese sandwiches and yogurt. And he loves singing, especially "Take me out to the ballgame."

Download Lucas's full case study PDF (0.75 MB PDF)