I typed this update from the airplane as we were heading back to Virginia. 

 

We landed in Boston on Thursday around 12 PM but couldn’t check in to our lodging until after 1 PM. After leaving the airport, Abigail and I took an Uber to Chick-fil-A for some lunch, then another Uber to the place we were staying. It was a host home, which was a little different, but it worked for our stay. 

 

Friday was an early morning. We had to be at the hospital by 6:15 AM for a CT scan of Abigail’s jaw. Everything went well—it took about an hour and a half from sedation, to the scan itself, to her waking up. 

 

After that, we grabbed breakfast in the cafeteria before heading to our next appointment at 10 AM for a salivagram. For those who may not know, a salivagram is a test where they place a small amount of dye on the back of the tongue to see if saliva is being aspirated. The test lasted about two hours, as they monitored how the dye mixed with her saliva using a radiology machine. 

 

Once that was finished, we went back to the cafeteria for lunch and a little downtime. While we were there, we ran into Abigail’s inpatient speech pathologist and had a chance to catch up for a bit. 

 

Later, we stopped by the family center so Abigail could color and play, which she always enjoys. We ended our hospital day at the Ryan Seacrest Studio, where they host activities throughout the day. On Fridays, they wrap things up with a dance party and music time, which was a fun way to end a long day. 

 

When we got back to where we were staying, the results from the salivagram had already come through the portal. The test showed that Abigail is aspirating her saliva. We expect to hear from the doctor sometime this upcoming week to discuss the results and what the next steps will be. 

 

Even though it was chilly and rainy, it was a good trip to Boston. It’s definitely starting to feel like our second home.