Thanksgiving Eve

Good late evening everyone :O)

Today started the weaning process again. Let's see if I can explain this so it is understandable.
They moved her from full ventilator breathing for her to the ventilator breathing with her. It is still going to breathe with her for 14 breaths, but anything over that she is doing on her own. Does that make sense. I am a little nutty lately, maybe all of you should worry about me! HAHA!!

I spoke with the Pulmonologist's Physician Assistant today. Had not met him before. Seems to be a really nice person and a caring medical provider. He calls Mom..Nurse Ryan and said he makes sure everyone knows she is a nurse. He said that is because they need to remember she can hear what is going on and she knows what is being done to her and why. He said that can be a good thing or a bad thing. He said they were disappointed having to put her back on the ventilator, but he assured me it isn't uncommon. He said they were just so excited for her because being off the ventilator opened up so much more for her rehab. He explained to me that this is a dance. Sometimes they lead, sometimes mom leads. It just takes time and patience to get the dance in sync. I just love that explanation for some reason.

He had explained to me her episode and being put back on the vent was a bit puzzling. They still think she was getting tired, but the way I understood it, there is still a bit of concern about infections. Of course she still has some because of her belly (and they said that could take months to heal) but she is on 4 IV antibiotics and she is still getting a high white cell count.

I asked about her still having so much mucus and if it was because of her laying and not moving around. He said that was part of it, but when they were on a ventilator and with oxygen, they had to give them some moisture with those things which introduced moisture in the lungs and made a bit more mucus. So it's one of those things. He said that is another reason to get them off the ventilator a plug the trach is to help dry them out. Maybe we could put her on the clothesline.

He also said they were going to do a test on her and didn't get to it because of going back on the vent. I believe it is called a histology. I had Carol, her very sweet Respiratory Therapist explain it to me. So the way I understand it is they keep track of her breathing at night and basicly are checking for sleep apnea, which could wear her out. I told her I didn't doubt if she had it. I have it and wear a CPAP. So when she gets back to where they can do that test on her, they will.

Oh I got Mom's car fixed. Everyone here is so sweet. The hospital maintence man jumped the car for me. Mary Lou (who runs the house, my house mom) followed me to the repair shop and brought me back and Teri the very nice lady at the hospital front desk took me and dropped me off to pick it up when she got off work. Just needed a new battery. Now...what is wrong with Zach's car?

I went to a support group last night and I really enjoyed it. It was just me, another woman and Katherine who does the group. It is nice to talk to people who are going through what you are and know what you are feeling is normal. I am going to eat dinner with her tomorrow since we are both alone. The hospital is serving a Thanksgiving dinner. I will report back on that. I don't think they will have mom's homemade noodles. Since I don't care for pumpkin pie, I got a piece of pumpkin cheesecake at Barnes and Noble today. I hope it is as good as it looks.

I want everyone to have a wonderful Thanksgiving, eats lots and think of me and enjoy and love your family and friends. Life is fine one day and not the next.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
http://www.kindredhospitalsyc.com/
http://www.payitfowardhouse.org