You know you are really sick when the highlight of your week is the day you, to put it delicately, move your bowels --such was Sam's day. Other highlights today were :
- the removal of the epinephrine drip
- the reduction of antibiotics from 4 kinds down to 3
- the ventilator pressure was reduced from 13 down to 11 . Normal pressure is 4 so it's not like Sam's even close to well but it's a step in the right direction.
- Oxygen was reduced from 50% to 40%
- Oxygen saturation was 99-100% most of the day (up from 94-95 yesterday)
- Expired air volume increased from 450 to 540 which is pretty much normal now.
- Dopamine (for blood pressure ) reduced from 12 to 10
On top of all this he got himself a diaper AND a new pair of boots.
On the downside Sam remains a long way from being able to breath for himself. The xrays show no change from yesterday and the bleb (the problematic air pocket with its inherent potential to develop as either a pneumothorax or fill with pus) remains a serious concern.
Poor sam's limbs are noticeably thinner now , and he was thin (read svelte) to start with. He is of course still totally sedated 24/7 and remains with fluid drips being his only "food". Blood tests today showed that Sams cortisol levels were very low (9 instead of 40 ) so thats been added.
I'm sitting by Sam's bed as I write this, I think he hears a little of what is going on as his eyebrow will twitch when it gets noisy in here. The doctor has just come in an has advised that he is so pleased with the progress today that they will start to wake him up a little over the course of the next few days and will introduce real, liquid, food.....it's scary, a little precipitous, but Sam needs to be challenged to start operating his systems on his own. Way to go Sam !!
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WOW........Sam....Your father is very good at relaying your day to day health updates to those of us who can't be there with you, but are very concerned and love you very much. It will be quite a bit for you to read and take in when you are feeling better. It's not been a good experience for anyone--especially you and your parents and little sisters...a pretty big bump in the road for you all. After this is merely a memory for you (That day can't come too soon!) I think you will be glad that your Dad set this site up for you. I'm thinking that it's probably helping him and the rest of your family during this really hard time, too. I know it helps us by knowing what's going on with you. And I'm so glad that each day you are making some progress. I check this site every morning and evening and it helps me feel closer to all of you during all of this. I must tell you that I will be going to help my friend Kathy (She used to babysit me and your mom and Scott) to close down her cabin for the winter in Michigan for the next 3 days. It's a very remote area--no phone, internet, or TV services....so I won't be able to check on you each day. However you will be in my thoughts and prayers and I know that your doctors and nurses and mom and dad and sisters will continue to take very good care of you. Sam we are all so proud of you and love you so much. We love you too, Cam, Graham, Marne, and Kathryn...Ok I'll end this mini book now, but I'll be back soon. Just keep taking one minute, hour, and day at a time and be positive. God loves you all and so do we. Try to get some rest. Love you, Marsha and the Madison connection.
Way to go Sam. Way to go Graham, CAM, Kathryn and Marnie. Bloody brilliant!!!!!
From afar we have all been rooting, cheering, praying and thinking of all that you have been going through. Now over the hump and as you say Graham things are looking better each day.
Did you get a new mast for the sail boat, I know you'd both like to go out for a wee jaunt once Sam gets his legs under himself again.
Uncle Bede
Greetings from Aunt Wendy and Uncle Scott. We are sending our prayers and good vibes to our dear nephew! Sounds scary as all get out. I'm thinking the family is getting a crash course in medical technology. Thanx for the amazing blog updates. Rally, SAM, rally!!! Love to the girls, Cam and Graham. We'll stay in touch... Our love, W and S
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