Bryan continues to inspire us in so many ways. After the harrowing spring pneumonia experience, he moved twice and we discovered he has severe sleep apnea. Had the hospitalization not happened, this might have gone undetected. As a result, he had a sleep study done and the takeaway was the fact that he stops breathing over 368 times during the night. That’s not cool. Brain damage could occur which he definitely does not need. Not to mention many other health risks affiliated with his condition.

The pulmonologist suggested Bryan try using a C-pap machine. This we started in June. We worked with him while on family vacation. He loathed it. But, he gamely tried it each night while awake as the family watched movies together. After 90 days on that device, with support on the home front from his various staff, still only wearing it while awake, he went back to the doctor and they prescribed the bi-pap – a similar device with an easier exhale than the C-Pap. I was sure this was the answer.

Once again, we worked with him while on family vacation and thought he was good to go in transitioning to using it at night. It didn’t happen. He continued to just wear it before bed but not during sleep hours. We begged. We cajoled. I cried and told him I just wanted him to be safe while he slept, explaining the dangers of not wearing the machine. His staff voiced similar opinions. To no avail.

During this five-month period, I conversed bi-monthly with Bryan’s “sleep coach” to try to come up with clever ways to entice him into wearing the machine. Each idea was a bust. I made up “sleep success” charts for him to fill out, logging his progress. It didn’t make any difference. Positive reinforcement was not working. We were at our wits end.

Then Bryan’s program specialist suggested something she saw advertised on TV – Inspire. I researched it to find out what it was all about. It seemed like the last resort to me. I even told (threatened) Bryan, telling him that if he didn’t start wearing the bi-pap at night, he would have to have TWO surgeries. He HATES the “S” word, as he calls it. Even that tactic failed miserably.

And, so, we moved forward, meeting with an ENT who specialized in the procedure. The first step was to get a sleep endoscopy in the hospital to see if he qualified. He was a wreck for that test. Clinging to his dad, whining, crying. I was really concerned about the second surgery with his severe reaction to this simple procedure.

He more than qualified. When sleeping, it was discovered that his tongue completely covers his airway, stopping the breath. This made him an excellent candidate for Inspire. We made the appointment for the surgery that very day.

On Monday, he went in for the two-hour procedure, much calmer than he had been for the endoscopy. AND he had to wait from 8:45 until 10:45 before begin wheeled into the O.R. Ed and I sat in the waiting area until 2:00 when, first the Inspire Rep, and then the doctor came to tell us how things went. He had done well! Such a relief.

Once he was discharged, we took him back to his apartment, still very woozy. But, gradually, the anesthesia wore off, his appetite began to return and he gobbled up some Gatorade and applesauce.

He’s quite the trooper. Not once did he request any medication for the pain caused by the incision in his chest and his neck. The thick gauze pads are still in place, hiding the stitches which will come out next week. But he is in high spirits. And we are thankful for the wonders of medicine in crafting a device to enable those with sleep apnea to get the rest they need. Without the need to use a C-pap machine which some have likened to a leaf blower in your face all night. Not my idea of a quality sleep experience. I’m sure my son will agree with that!