Because of Autumn’s liver disease, she has an accumulation of free fluid in her abdominal cavity called ascites. Until she’s transplanted, the doctor’s utilize a combination of two medications that in essence help Autumn’s body pull the fluid back into her blood vessels and then “pee it out.” Unfortunately as her disease progresses the fluid becomes more difficult to control with at-home medications. Her belly swells, it becomes difficult to sit/bend at the waist and she has difficulty fitting into clothes and diapers. Her belly button begins to protrude and the vessels in her belly become markedly more pronnounced. It’s obvious that she doesn’t feel well and she prefers to lay around on her back and watch cartoons. The fluid causes an increase in pressure in her belly which creates less room for food so her appetite decreases significantly. Often, she will also vomit from the increased pressure. Autumn then requires IV infusions.

Since the ascites first began back in July, Autumn has required 5 IV infusions. Each infusion requires IV access and takes approximately 3 hours to complete. As she’s only 10 months old, you cannot explain to her that this infusion will help make her feel better. She’s catching on and associates gloves and doctor’s offices with needle sticks and scary things. She’s developed a clear phobia of all things medically related but I can’t say that I blame her. Hopefully one day this will all be just a blur and she won’t remember any of it, Mommy and Daddy will take on that burden.