We don't want Ari awake, but he wants to be awake. How wonderful to see his beautiful shining eyes!
This pic was taken yesterday. He would pop his eyes open, try to lift off the bed and then give in to the sedatives again. Today, his eyes would pop open whenever he heard a voice. If it was someone he knew, he would try to turn his head or try to start tracking them. I'm seeing more and more of my sweet boy in there every day.
Today was day 2 with no bad news and more steps in the right direction. Chest tube comes out today. No more diuretic. Urinary catheter came out last night. He won the award this morning for the best sounding lungs in the PICU. Granted, you don't want the lungs of patients in the PICU as your bar, but we'll take it. Today, they'll turn down the vent a bit and start some automation, so that he gets to do more work. Fingers crossed. With any luck tomorrow's blood draw will also show that his hepatitis was transient and long gone.
Dr. Fiser said this morning that if he keeps on this path, he could be off the vent in 2-3 days. He then asked me if I had been getting some sleep....because I won't be getting much once he's off the vent. As he improves, so will our care of him, as his nursing care decreases. Our 17 hour watch cycle now will get bumped up to 24 for awhile and we've been told to expect a long road weaning off oxygen and possibly another long road getting back on solid food. Again, we'll take it. Weeks, months, whatever it takes to get sweet Ari back home again.
With the ability to take a few real breaths again, I have to say thank you to family who have stood with us at bedside almost around the clock since this started: Barbara, Mike, Bruce, David, Val. You all have enabled us to rest and wake up the next day willing to take up the battle again, Barbara especially who has put in as many hours as we have at bedside and has helped us attempt to schedule so our stress-ridden brains don't just confuse us further. Thank you all for being there to remind Ari that he is loved, keep an eye on him and be sure his nursing care was as it should be. "Invaluable" doesn't begin to describe what your involvement and presence has meant to us these past few days. Thank you from both Sean and me.
Love to all,
Dorothy
This pic was taken yesterday. He would pop his eyes open, try to lift off the bed and then give in to the sedatives again. Today, his eyes would pop open whenever he heard a voice. If it was someone he knew, he would try to turn his head or try to start tracking them. I'm seeing more and more of my sweet boy in there every day.
Today was day 2 with no bad news and more steps in the right direction. Chest tube comes out today. No more diuretic. Urinary catheter came out last night. He won the award this morning for the best sounding lungs in the PICU. Granted, you don't want the lungs of patients in the PICU as your bar, but we'll take it. Today, they'll turn down the vent a bit and start some automation, so that he gets to do more work. Fingers crossed. With any luck tomorrow's blood draw will also show that his hepatitis was transient and long gone.
Dr. Fiser said this morning that if he keeps on this path, he could be off the vent in 2-3 days. He then asked me if I had been getting some sleep....because I won't be getting much once he's off the vent. As he improves, so will our care of him, as his nursing care decreases. Our 17 hour watch cycle now will get bumped up to 24 for awhile and we've been told to expect a long road weaning off oxygen and possibly another long road getting back on solid food. Again, we'll take it. Weeks, months, whatever it takes to get sweet Ari back home again.
With the ability to take a few real breaths again, I have to say thank you to family who have stood with us at bedside almost around the clock since this started: Barbara, Mike, Bruce, David, Val. You all have enabled us to rest and wake up the next day willing to take up the battle again, Barbara especially who has put in as many hours as we have at bedside and has helped us attempt to schedule so our stress-ridden brains don't just confuse us further. Thank you all for being there to remind Ari that he is loved, keep an eye on him and be sure his nursing care was as it should be. "Invaluable" doesn't begin to describe what your involvement and presence has meant to us these past few days. Thank you from both Sean and me.
Love to all,
Dorothy
Wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteHi Dorothy...I'm an old, old friend of Michaels. Maybe Sean will remember me! Patti Cox (Jennifer Cox's mom). Jennifer told me about Ari yesterday and just forwarded the link to yoor blog. Please know that Ari and all you guys are in my heart and I pray for a quick recovery for Ari. He's pretty precious!..... Patti
ReplyDeleteFantastic news. So thankful.
ReplyDeleteDr. Fiser is a good friend of ours and I'm so glad Ari has him watching out for him. Couldn't be in better hands!
ReplyDelete