June 12, 2007

Well. Things may be looking up again.

Mom has been off the ventilator now for 48 hours. While this is positive news it also makes me nervous. When you get used to the respiratory support the prospect of what can happen without it is scary. The last time she was breathing on her own she made it for 24 hours then crashed with the infection and fevers. This time she is handling her secretions well and seems able to cough up everything on her own. On Monday her nurse, Robert, said the few times he had to suction her very little came up. Yesterday when I was there she was coughing significantly less and her sputum cup was almost empty. On other days is was quite full.

She likes Robert a lot. He seems to be her favorite nurse. She even sticks her tongue out at him when she doesn't like something. She doesn't do that to just anybody.

She was visited by her Physical Therapist from the nursing home, Barbara. She seemed to enjoy that. They miss her over there.

What comes next? They will begin to dislodge the collar/balloon blocking her trachea. When they do this they will see if she can handle her secretions and not aspirate fluid into her lungs. This is a big deal because it will determine whether or not they will be able to safely reverse the tracheostomy.

That's all for now.