Yesterday was a pretty average day in Nephrology besides the half-hour in which my rotation RD took me to her 4 year old's birthday party in the hospital's daycare center... little kids are so cute! I love 'em. Let me share with you what these four year olds had for a birthday "snack": a large handful of Cheeto Puffs, creme-filled donuts with sprinkles, a slice of birthday cake, and a glass of 2% milk. Future diabetics anyone?

And today I got to see a bedside swallow eval and two modified barium swallows with the SLP. The first barium swallow was a 18 month old little boy who hadn't eaten orally in a year. He has a G-tube and his parents feed him that way. He wasn't too happy with that barium-filled applesauce... no way. But they got some down him, and he didn't aspirate, so all he needs is a bit of feeding therapy, and he'll be good to go (hopefully). The second patient was a 28 year old woman who suffered from severe seizures (which have just begun recently after she suffered from some brain damage in a car wreck). She hates not being able to feed herself, so she just wants to be fed solely through her PEG. Her swallow eval came out clean, so she is able to eat, but she just doesn't want to. I guess someone could choose not to eat for the rest of his or her life...?