Dear friends, Here is a letter from Patrick...the latest update on Quinn:

Hopefully this will be the last update I send to you penned from Mattel Children's Hospital in Brentwood, California.  Quinn underwent procedure to place a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (a PEG) - essentially a feeding tube that sticks out of his abdomen. Quinn's brain insult and/or subsequent surgery caused him to lose his ability to swallow.  And if you can't swallow, you can't eat.  Up until now Quinn has had a nasal gastric tube stuck in his nose and down into his stomach - food and medicine has been pumped into this.  But an NG tube is not a longer-term option - too many risks, so decided to place PEG. 

I've attached two photos of our intrepid hero - first is shot of Quinn awaiting surgery, the second afterwards.  You'll note in first shot, upper right corner, long black device - this an endoscope.  Anesthesiologists knocked Quinn out then put him on ventilator (again....). GI surgeons then put the endoscope down his throat and into his stomach. At the end of the scope is light, along with camera and tiny robotic arm. Surgeons found suitable location for tube placement (no organs between stomach and skin), turned the light on, looked for the light glowing through the skin, and used this spot to punch needle through into his stomach.  The robotic arm grabbed the needle, which was attached to a wire, and the needle was then pulled up through the endoscope and out of Quinn's mouth.  Doctor removed needle and attached wire to PEG tube, then pulled the wire back down the scope and out of the hole in his stomach.  A little catch was inflated and now my young boy has tube hanging out of his abdomen, anchored inside his stomach.  Absolutely fascinating.  I asked to remain in the OR so I could watch the procedure - both anesthesiologists and both surgeons said 'no' at the same time.  I was shown to the waiting room (like I didn't know where it was after 1 month of residency...).

Feeding is essentially the last obstacle we have to face before taking Quinn home from the hospital.  From neurosurgical standpoint, the wounds on his head have healed and his brain has regained ability to control pressures, so their job nearly complete; from oncologist standpoint Quinn is cancer free (at least for the next 4 months) and hence will not require chemotherapy; from neurological standpoint, the poor boy not as far along as these doctors would have hoped but he is improving each day and this the absolute right direction; from vascular standpoint, the clot in his femoral artery no longer an issue; and finally, from gastroenterological standpoint, he will now be able to eat.  He now needs to regain cognitive skills, reflex & motion, and his ability to swallow - and all of these handled outside this hospital's walls.  If all goes well, Quinn could be released tomorrow night!

Will be pure joy to have Quinn at home.  Casey & Maxine want their little brother back, and Momma & Poppa want to see each other more than 25 minutes a day.  Quinn will require some special equipment - bed, chairs, etc. - until he recovers.  But fear not - Candace all over it:  "Does that Stryder hospital recliner come in chestnut? "  Do not be surprised if Elle Decor, in 6 months, runs big spread on new decorative style sweeping the West Coast:  "Malibu Medical." (how DO they get those light bulbs in the IV bags???)

Again and again and again, thank you all for your support - the cards, the balloons, the flowers, the food, and most importantly, the prayers.  There have been many great surprises that have come from this hardship, but the greatest has been the love and support offered by our friends and family.  This will be impossible for me to ever forget.  Please keep Quinn in your prayers - he still has long road ahead of him.   But he will be home soon and I feel this is a milestone we can all celebrate.

With much love,