Tucked away on the fourth floor of UAH (university of AB hospital) is a cozy little room with nice furniture, a huge tropical fish tank and 3 computers for public use. My little safe haven from all things medical. So it's here I sit while Donovan tries his best to get in a little snooze before the onslaught of physio. (onslaught? sounds more gruesome than it actually is....they mostly do strengthening and balance exercises!)
How about a little lunch-time good news? The last of the chest tubes came out today! Yay! So, we're down to one, count 'em, one, IV pump. That's down from at least seven in the ICU. We now need to ask God to keep the new lungs nicely inflated and working at top capacity. The four holes from the chest tubes are stitched up, but need to heal.
A concern of recent is Donovan's fluid restriction. The doctors are very vigilant about keeping the new lungs "dry" not overloading them with too much fluid in his system. Because he gets many IV meds and tube feeds at night, and needs to swallow so many pills throughout the day, they must keep what he drinks in a 24-hr period down to abuot 1 litre. That is not a lot! I've never really kept track of what I drink, but this restriction plays games with the head, and makes me thirsty for him! Let's pray this restriction is lifted soon. At this time, 1:30 pm, he only has about 11/2 cups left to drink till tomorrow morning! It goes all too quickly. He's still swollen in the feet and legs, but that is decreasing.
There is talk of decreasing the tube feeding that he has had nightly for about 7 years or more. Donovan used to need over 3,000 calories a day to keep strong for breathing, fighting infection and gaining weight. Guess what! Without a couple of faulty lungs, he may no longer need nightly tube feeds. Eventually, we may be able to remove his G-tube entirely! I hadn't even thought about that til now!
Strength is being gained daily, but Donovan still isn't walking on his own. This is something we'll work on at the gym downstairs now that the last chest tube is out. It's hard to support the upper body with a "shark bite" in your chest. The staples will stay in another week and a half or so, so we've got a ways to go.
Thankful for every inch we gain on this journey,
Beth
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How wonderful it would be to get rid of his gastrostomy tube. I did not know he had one and was worried about weight loss over the past few weeks, so glad he was being nourished at least. :) I am sure it must feel better to breathe with no chest tubes poking holes in those lovely pink lungs. So pleased to hear every step of progress. Will pray that the fluid restriction will end soon. They should maybe thicken up his tube feeds so he could drink more. :)
Glad you have a place handy to be able to journal this amazing journey Beth. I was astounded to hear that he might be in hospital for months. I pray for supernatural healing so that the time is greatly decreased. Praise God for Verla and a place to stay, God has provided in so many wonderful ways.
Love and Prayers, DEB
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