HWN Suggests

You Might Be a Trach Mom If...

You might be a trach mom if...

• You have ever looked into a trach tube to check for a plug and got secretions shot at you.
• You can change trach ties while talking on the phone, holding the trach in with one hand, entertaining your trach child, and disciplining your other child all at the same time.
• Your child and family have ever been stared at, pointed out, gaped at, or flat out laughed at...and are stronger for it.
• You take your child to OT, PT, and Speech every week...and are the OT, PT, and Speech teacher the rest of the week!
• You require everyone who walks into your house to wash their hands before touching your child.
• You…

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Featured

 How a Tracheostomy is Performed Step-by-Step with Pictures

A step-by-step description with pictures of how a tracheostomy is performed.

Articles of Interest

A Trach Post

I think the biggest thing to remember with trachs, is that people live a totally normal life with trachs.

Dear New Trach Mommy

The first time “trach” was mentioned to us, it was in a “We really don’t think she will ever need a trach. It’s a worst-case scenario here and we consider her mild to moderate.” sort of way.

Overcoming the Trach Fear

The trach really isn’t as scary as we imagine it to be. Really! We have to learn everything about our child’s care…this is just one more thing. It seems scarier because it is the airway, but given enough time and practice, you become a pro.

Trach

In a nutshell, a tracheostomy is a procedure whereby the surgeon makes a small hole in the patient's neck directly into the windpipe (trachea).

Trach Myths

My main goal is for people to see that the trach is no big deal. It's really no different than someone using an inhaler or a shot for diabetes. Don't be scared of it just because it's something you don't see every day.

Tracheotomy - 3D Medical Animation

Tracheotomy and tracheostomy are surgical procedures on the neck to open a direct airway through an incision in the trachea (the windpipe).

What are the parts of a tracheostomy tube?

In 1543, Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564) described how he breathed for a animals by blowing into a reed inserted into their necks through a tracheal opening. This was one of the first descriptions of a tracheostomy tube. By the 19th century the operation of tracheotomy was perfected, and tracheostomies resembled those used today.

Resources

Aaron's Tracheostomy Page

This site is dedicated to my son Aaron who had a tracheostomy for the first 4 years of his life. I hope that Aaron's Page will be helpful to others caring for a child with a tracheostomy, or to anyone seeking to learn more about tracheostomies.

Global Tracheostomy Tube Awareness

GTTA is designed to bring awareness of tracheostomy patients and their families.

Trach Ties

Our family recently sold almost everything we owned to follow a dream of moving to China. While there our third child was born with cystic hygroma. Her condition necessitated our speedy return to the States and set us on a whole new path. At 32 days old her tracheostomy was placed and I became a trach mom. Now we are setting out to accomplish new dreams as a family of five.

Moms of Trach Babies

For mothers (& fathers) of tracheostomy children to come together for support, advice, and friendship.