Wesley Visit's the ENT

When Wesley was born he was diagnosed with a condition called STRIDER- the softening of the esophagus - which causes his breathing to sound very strained and LOUD. The Dr's told us that the condition would clear up within a year or so and we shouldn't worry about it. He is now 4 yr's old and still has it. It isn't all the time, and unless you have been around him ALOT you probably wouldn't notice it. You can usually hear it when he has been really active or when the weather changes (ex: hot to cold/cold to hot). After consulting with his ped. dr. she sent us to a local ENT to have him scoped. So yesterday was the big day. I told Wesley that he was going to the Dr. before we left the house so he would be prepared. He quickly informed me that he wasn't sick! I tried to explain to him that it was a checkup and that he wouldn't get any shots. He did GREAT when Dr. Lee examined him. He even laughed some when Dr Lee was looking in his ears and up his nose! The Dr. then told me that he was going to attempt to scope Wesley awake. He said that he does try to scope kids awake since it is so much easier to get that part out of the way. He told me that he would only be able to look as far as the vocal cords. We then went into the next room to where there was a examine table/bed and equipment. Wesley then became terrified! I walked around with to try to calm him down some before we went back into the examine room. I was second guessing the idea of scoping him awake! I know how strong my son is and he can put up a good fight if he is being held down! When all the nurses and Dr. were in the room ready I laid him on the table . He, of course, starting screaming IMMEDIATELY! Four of five nurses grabbed a part of Wesley and held him like a burrito while the Dr. took position. Now, I didn't really want to see the scope being down because I don't really do well watching things like that. But the nurse told me to come stand by Wesley's head so he could see me. I have been in this position one too many times before. 2 years ago when he had pseudomonus he had to get 1 or 2 IV's a day because he would pull them out. I had to stand there beside my screaming child, feeling helpless, hearing him call out to me for help not being able to do anything. So I wasn't really wanting to even be in the room for the scope. But, I quickly told myself that I had to be strong for my child and just do it. Thankfully the scope went in the first time and the Dr. was able to see what he needed to see. After the examine was over Wesley was fine! The nurse took him to the treasure box to get some prizes and a lollipop. Then there was good news and bad news that I was not expecting! The Dr. told me that everything looked good down to the vocal cords. The bad news is that he was sending us to Birmingham , UAB childrens' hospital, to have the next procedure done. Apparently this is the closest place that does this special procedure on ped's. They will put Wesley asleep and scope him beyond the vocal cords to try to see what is causing his breathing problems. We will be heading to Birmingham on May 7th for this procedure. Now if you know my son, he gets all the weird illnesses, or procedures done to him, so for some reason this doesn't surprise me that it would be my child that would have to have this done! I just pray that this will be an outpatient, in and out, procedure and what ever they might find can be easily fixed!