Well Donna’s trach was downsized this morning from a 6 mm to
a 4 mm, which is the smallest it will go.
Also we expected the doctor to cap the trach after some watchful time
but based on Donna’s initial performance (and measurements) he decided to cap
it immediately with no supplemental oxygen.
This means that Donna is 100% breathing through her nose and mouth. Now, despite a very watchful respiratory
therapist, you can’t take engaged family members like us and do that without us
worrying so after a quick run to Walmart, we became the proud owners of a
finger oxygen monitor so we can supplement official measurements with our
own. It became readily apparent that
Donna’s oxygen levels were better than mine and strong. All great news. Now if Donna wakes a bit more, they can yank
it straight away and this smaller size allows for speech, we’ll see.
Donna has had a slight fever yesterday and today, so our
antenna are up but as of yet it has not even warranted an antibiotic, so to
this point, just us worrying a little bit.
Other than those great developments, Donna was a bit lazy
although she got both a therapist workout and a Bob workout. It has become a bit of a joke that she
resists for the therapist and they sometimes are hesitant to resist back as
they are unsure of her limits. Me, I
have pushed the limits already in our weekend sessions so a few times I have
cut in and confirmed what she can do.
Donna may dislike these workouts now but she will love it later as it
will save considerable pain.
I think we discovered today a nurse’s worst nightmare: 2
engineers and a retired nurse armed with their own monitor hovering over a
patient. The retired nurse sharing her
experience while the engineers discuss the science of the measurement and the
risks and uncertainties of the activity.
The real nurse, with actual responsibility for the patient, can barely
get a word in edge-wise. Fortunately our
nurses are good sports and humor us. Who
knows what they say later.
Keep the faith, our girl moves ahead.
Bob
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