All your prayers, positive energy, and support has pushed Sam to a new mile stone......
A third doctor (new to SAM) has a reputation of pushing his patients. His new approach of changing the ventilator settings from deep breathing, to shallow breathing was done to aggressively recruit more lung tissue to start breathing....AND it worked! Sam's xray has revealed good improvement today. They have also been able to take Sam off all of the blood pressure and heart medications. Last night they even started to slowly wake Sam up by decreasing the paralytic drug (vecuronium). Sam squeezed Dad's hand when prompted! Decreasing the paralytic drug allows even more of Sam's lung tissue to be recruited working towards the goal of independence from the ventilator. Today Sam has been up and down struggling to find his own auto control of his heart rate and blood pressure, a common phenomenon called "bounce" when the strong blood pressure/heart meds are removed. In addition, another antibiotic has been removed. The Infectious disease Doctor still thinks Sam's case is a rare necrotizing mycoplasma, but has not removed the broad spectrum antibiotic, just in case it is a super-infection caused by an aggressive bacteria. Finally, they are starting to swap the strong narcatics (versed and fentanyl) for lesser evils, to begin the weaning of those drugs. Oh, and they have added hydrocortisone to help with the inflamation.......side effect being, his blood glucose is too high and he is now also on insulin. It's all a mind boggling, complex regime.....but whatever it takes. We love you SAM...hang in there..... you're doing an awesome
job!!!!
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2 comments:
my GOD!! IT all is utterly mindblowing, the cleverness of the doctors, the dynamics of the human body and total strength of the human spirit, if not so totally terrifying, this has been an incredible journey. You guys are certainly getting a crash course in meicine & technology!!
Me TOO!!, not to mention getting to "meet" members of your extended family. HI EVERYONE, thanks Sam for bringing us all together( but next time, just have a 21st or something simple!! XX)
So pleased to hear latest developments and the speed it is happening, onwards & upwards well done.
Those legs could sure do with a bit of fat on them, may food not be too far in the future!! Wonder what you're dreaming of Sam,"burger king" or maybe one of Mums specialities XX Love to you ALL, you guys are all incredilbe XX
Sam & Family: Congratulations for all of the tremendous progress today and yesterday. We talk about you every night at the dinner table. This week we are graced with Ian’s presence in the household, back from college- This lets us all share our thoughts as a family. We discuss what it must be like for all of you to go through such an ordeal. We continue to be amazed at the complexity and the unknown of Sam’s condition after so much time has passed. Some things will never be known or understood, just accepted. We think your boots look like you might be up for some downhill skiing this year. The invitation is open, when you’re ready. We send our love from every living creature in the household: Uncle Tim, Aunt Pam, Ian, Justin, Ryan, Sara (dog), Kiwi (cat), Wildfire and Charlie (corn snakes) and Omelet (the hedgehog).
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