Saturday, March 7, 2015
Update # 180
8 Years
Jeff had a relatively quiet night/day and is resting comfortably.
Physical therapy brought Jeff a boot late yesterday afternoon. The boot alternates on each foot every 2 hours. This is to help keep his feet straight so when rehab does begin, he is a bit prepared.
Tube feedings were resumed last evening. Jeff seems to be tolerating them well. He is actually hungry and always counting down till the next 4-hour feed.
Jeff is becoming drug resistant to his sedation which means he is awake more often than asleep. This also means he is also becoming more frustrated with his communicating. He is still to weak to use the communication cards properly so it takes a while to ask the right questions to find out his needs or wants.
Now his main want, naturally, is ice or something to drink. Every doctor or tech or nurse who walked in the door would always ask if they could do anything for him – showing he wanted a drink would get a sorry but no from each person.
One of the surgeons from the ENT team stopped by to say that he will stay as late as necessary on Monday to do Jeff’s tracheostomy. Jeff will not have to wait much longer to be taken off the ventilator.
This morning’s x-ray looked good. Jeff’s right lung is once again fully inflated. He is breathing well on the vent and they have been able to lower the oxygen level.
Jeff’s highlight of the day was having his beard shaved. Ken used Jeff’s razor to shave off as much as possible considering the holster holding the vent tube in place covers part of his cheeks. Jeff feels better not having part of the itchy beard.
Dr. DiPersio stopped by this afternoon. He was out of the country for a few days (and leaving again tomorrow) but knew about Jeff’s 2 intubations. He tries to avoid tracheostomies but feels in Jeff’s case it is necessary. Jeff is still too weak and these things that come up are just too life-threatening for him. He told Jeff he would be back on Wednesday.
We pray tomorrow is another quiet day. We know we’re getting closer to getting Jeff on a better safer path to recovery. Thanks for being with Jeff each step of this long road. We love hearing from you and knowing your prayers are constant.
love,
Marcia