DaneHaven
Posted : 2/7/2013 2:10:37 PM
 
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ilot's update from yesterday- 2/7
I was shocked when I walked in yesterday morning and her eyes were open and she was tracking with her eyes. I walked over and talked to her and she smiled as she recognized me. I guarantee you that I thought that I would be walking in to the final feedback session before pulling her plug. Everyone's prayers must be working.
Now some quick info and I need to run back to the hospital.
She was in and out of consciousness all day yesterday and obviously struggling trying to process what was happening to her and frustrated with her inability to move or talk. Her thinking was very fuzzy even though they would reduce the narcotics from time to time to let her stay conscious a little longer.
All of her stats showed improvement. The disease control doctor said that her white count was down (for the first time) and he didn't know why, it just was and that was a good thing. The lower white count lets her build more red cells which help with the oxygen. They have also given her a couple of transfusions in the last couple of weeks to try and build the red cells, but with little improvement.
Her pulmonary doctor (who coordinates all of her treatment) came in and looked at all of her numbers and just kind of shook his head. He said the x-ray taken yesterday was exactly like it has been with no improvement and he doesn't know why she has suddenly improved.
They did reduce the ventilator setting slightly in the morning since her stats were so good and it stayed reduced most of the day until they had to move her and clean her wounds. That set her back somewhat and she had to have it upped and the oxygen upped for awhile to off set it. Her blood gases are looking good.
Her chest tubes are all still producing some out put, urine and bowels are good. The skin doctor was in treating the areas where the infection had settled in feet and toes and a wound on her forehead. She was really encouraged that the wounds were starting to heal and the swelling in those areas had not broken through the skin.
The cardio vascular surgon had surgeries all day and didn't come in to see her and look at the films unless it was late last night. We hope to see him today as he is the one that will tell us if any additional tubes need to be inserted to try and pull more air (there is still some but very little) out of her chest. Yesterday they didn't think she could tolerate any more. Today we'll see.
So here is the situation at the moment. All of her organs except her lungs are functioning well. Her lungs are shot. They are filled with scar tissue and not expanding or contracting on their own and still have not re-attached to her chest wall (after the collapsed lungs). Unless they can get her to breath on her own and have the trach removed she wouldn't be a candidate for a transplant.
She obviously can't stay in the condition she is in long term. Chances for re-infection are way too high and she would slowly atrophy. She needs to improve before anything can be done.
She did have several visitors in yesterday and appeared to tolerate it well and the ICU staff has been fantastic. If she continues to show improvement in the next day or two more visitors would be fine. We'll see what happens today.
Keep sending your kind thoughts and prayers.