This website offers my experience on Tracheotomy Care for a child.


At 6 weeks old, one night my son Luke suddenly became very ill and was diagnosed with a very late presentation, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, up until that point he'd been a completely normal baby.

He was rushed to Southampton General Hospital after being stabilised in Dorchester County Hospital to under go emergency life saving surgery. 10 operations later and a after a year in PICU (paediatric intensive care unit) he was allowed to go back home. For three years he was at home with a tracheostomy and was on a ventilator.

As a family we've done hundreds of trachy changes, tried many methods, trachy types, tape types you name it we tried it, and it's fair to say along the way we've certainly learnt the hard way. So hopefully people in a similar situation will find something interesting here that may help a child in a similar condition. I have started to write book on our experiences because I believe the whole situation about Luke's care in and out of hospital, how it affected our family life and where we are now should be documented. Luke is currently 4 years old doing well and attending Primary schools as a normal little boy.

Please get in touch if you would like to ask a question. Luke's Life blog (a bit out of date, apologies)
 

Suction Machine Usage On a Child (Luke)

Complete Tracheostomy Change On Child (Luke)

 

 

Changing Trachy Tapes On a Child (Luke)

Luke 2.5 Years Old

 
 

Luke's Life - Book
It was a glorious summers afternoon in August, not a cloud in the sky. A refreshing breeze drifted over my face like a cool silk vale. I had better things to do than this I grumbled. My senses were rudely brought back to a musty reality as I entered a packed out supermarket with my kids. Weaving around the isles trying to get the job done as quickly as possible I soon finished and pulled up to the checkout. As I packed my shopping into carrier bags I noticed an old couple join our queue. The old man stared at us - as if seeing children for the first time.

"Your children, they're lovely, your daughter has such gorgeous red hair and they are so well behaved, so quiet, especially the boy - boys are normally a nightmare at that age." said the old man.

'"Well," I said, laughing manically inside my own mind at the thought of my children being so well behaved. "I suppose they're not too bad, but Luke here is very different to other children".

"In what way?" said the old man looking confused, "he looks very normal to me?".

"It's a long story, and now is not the time to tell it." But when I finished paying and started to walk away, I could not help but recall it.

Copyright Julian May 2014