Friday, March 13, 2015
Update # 186
8 Years
Lucky Friday the 13th. We always told Jeff Friday the 13th was a lucky day since that’s the date we learned we were expecting him. It still holds true.
Friday, February 13th was lucky for Jeff since he was at Barnes when the AFib started and later in the day when intubation took place. We are so thankful Jeff’s Waterloo doc suggested he go to a larger facility on the 12th. From Iowa, she faithfully follows Jeff’s daily progress in StL. That’s a caring physician.
Friday, March 13th has again proved to be a lucky day for Jeff. Lots of good things happened.
Sixteen hours breathing on his own on the trach moist air collar helped Jeff to have a restful night.
At 8:30 this morning, Jeff went on 24 hour trach collar. The pulmonary doc feels Jeff can handle it. Maybe if the weekend goes well, the vent machine might be moved out of Jeff’s room!
One pulmonary doc tried to do a speaking trial with Jeff. She had to cover the trach tube with her finger but Jeff could not talk. She commented she thought her finger was too small to completely cover the tube. An hour later, another pulmonary doc came and tried the speaking trial. “I need to be suctioned” were Jeff’s first words. The words were not completely clear but good enough for the doc, Meridith, and me to understand them. (and the doc did suction out quite a bit of thick mucus) The doc said speech therapy would be coming to insert a speaking value into Jeff’s trach. No one has come today so we hope tomorrow.
Jeff has his choice of time today – to sit up in a chair. Four weeks of being on his back had Jeff ready to do this. Mid-afternoon a transport team came and lifted Jeff from bed to chair. They suggested 30 minutes but Jeff thought maybe longer. It ended up a bit over an hour and Jeff agreed he over did it. Jeff was a little lightheaded and dizzy at the beginning but that improved. Sometimes we leaned him back in the chair and he enjoyed looking out the window. Sitting in a chair will now be a daily routine. (30 minutes only for a few days though)
The Physical Therapy tech came and did some exercises with Jeff. He’s working little by little to restore and build up his muscles.
Jeff always perks up when Dr. DiPersio walks into the room and today was no different when he gave Doc a big smile and wave. Jeff may feel progress is slow but considering how critical Jeff was Doc D says it’s going well and he’s pleased.
We hope your Friday the 13th was as lucky as Jeff’s. I think maybe we are to a point that daily updates are not as necessary as these last 4 weeks. And our thanks to you for your prayers every day of those weeks and some prayers were every hour, too. God and you were by our side during some awfully scary times for Jeff. I plan to do updates on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday. So this coming week it will be the 15th, 17th, 19th. Don’t worry – if there is any major change – I’ll send an update that evening!
love,
Marcia