Answers to a few questions

Feeding tubes and surgery: Today we hope to place the nasal tube past Timmy's stomach (an NJ tube) in hopes that it will greatly reduce the reflux without the nissen surgery. At this point, we would expect to feed him for a few days after that, and if all goes well we would go home with the NJ tube. Then, depending on how Timmy's strength is holding up and a on what we decide on the nissen, we would decide whether to continue to pursue any surgery, such as a G tube or JG tube.

As for Timmy's hands, he will hold things like a small rattle or a hand-sized tube or a rolled up washcloth if you put them in his hands. Usually he doesn't voluntarily pick up things or grab things or bring his hands to his mouth. He will sometimes pull glasses off of someone's face if given a little encouragement. He will gladly hold a finger or sometimes pull hair or a shirt. Some days his hands are pretty clenched and we have some splints to put on him to help him to relax the muscles and teach him not to keep them so tight.