Nora was in the hospital August 25-26, 2000 in Seattle. She had several tests to determine if her small size and lack of appetite were medical. A camera was sent down her throat to take pictures. While scoping her esophagus and stomach, they found sensitive tissue at the interface between her esophagus and stomach as well as a bump of tissue near the same place. There were two other similar bumps further up and in her stomach, but the doctors didn't say what they were or if they were the cause of her eating difficulties.
The tube in her nose went about 20 centimeters inside to her
esophagus and monitored pH. She had it in for a full 24 hours
and the little box strapped to my arm continuously recorded the
pH. They found that she had some acid reflux, which accounted
for the tender tissue just out of her stomach. The reflux is being
treated with Prevacid. She also takes metachlopromide before meals.
I understand that this is to hurry her digestive system along
so that she will be hungry and eat more. In these photos, Nora
weighed somewhere around 21 lbs. She has gained some weight since
then.
Page updated November 28, 2000.