Senya and Tom Bickford had their third child after a reportedly normal pregnancy. Shortly after the birth, the new baby girl, Judy, was given a regular heel prick blood test (newborn screening test). Their baby daughter also had a blockage of her small intestine, known as meconium ileus. An operation was needed to treat the bowel condition. Having recovered from this, she underwent some other tests and was subsequently diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
Early diagnosis had positives and negatives for the family. Senya and Tom are both hospitality workers with low income jobs and have no medical training. Senya had to give up her job for the first 5 years of Judy's life to care for her. There were many hospital admissions in her early childhood for various reasons associated with her condition.
From 5 years of age, Judy attended the local public primary school, learned the piano and played netball and was a happy child despite the continued hospital admissions and rigorous treatment she needed on a daily basis. Things had been going well until her recent transition to highschool. She then became withdrawn and fatigued as well as a bit sad and annoyed with the disease process and everything she had to do to manage the condition. She began resisting treatment and exercise and her mood and friendships started to be affected. She has recently been readmitted to hospital for 2 weeks due to an acute chest infection. She is now 12 years old and the family are trying to remain positive about her future, but know it is going to be more difficult and medically complicated as she gets older.
Judy's older siblings Darren and Siena have recently undergone genetic testing. Darren was found to be a carrier for CF but does not have the disease. Siena is not a carrier of CF.Contribute at least two (2) times for this activity: 1 original post and 1 reply to team mates.
• Based on the knowledge you have gained from the articles and videos presented so far, discuss how you would involve and support the family in Judy's care, both in the acute hospital setting and at home once Judy is discharged.
These ideas will be very useful when you are working on developing your care plan next week. There is a link to an example of a care plan in the Week 3 materials.
• Using your existing knowledge as well as exploring the "Resources" tab (left menu tab here in blackboard), share one organisation or agency you have found with the rest of the team in the group discussion area. If your knowledge is limited, you may also search the internet. Remember to choose services local to where Judy's family lives!
Your suggestion should be a succinct summary of the organisation or agency you have chosen as your top priority and why you chose it.
If someone else in your team has chosen your top priority and already posted, you may be able to further contribute to their post (share your additional observations using the "Reply" function) or share a second or third priority.