Mom Update 1-13-10

Mom is still sedated and on a ventilator. She hasn't come out of the "sleep" yet. She has opened her eyes a couple of times (once for Dad), but hasn't responded to commands or our voices much yet. She does keep moving her mouth some (probably wants that tube out of there!) and other body parts some, but nothing to command. They are giving her medicine to regulate her blood pressure because it was running low. She is still on the external pace maker that is regulating her heart rate. Her heart is currently beating irregularly without it. They did go ahead and put in the dialysis port this morning and may possibly start a continual dialysis tomorrow. She has produced a little urine this afternoon, but her kidneys were not really functioning much earlier. The reason she is still pretty much sedated is because of the kidney's aren't functioning well enough to flush out the Propofol that was used to sedate her. You can see the fluid building up again which is a little discouraging since they worked so hard to get it so much off. They do have her back on the diuretic, so hopefully things will pick up soon and she will start waking up a little more. They gave her blood yesterday due to her anemia and also have given her more blood today. The blood coming out of her chest tube is significantly less, which is great! Her blood sugar levels have been in great shape.

They did say she would get worse before she got better and it appears that is happening. But, we are hopeful and praying that things get better and start working again soon! I don't think that we have encountered any situation yet that the doctors did not think was a possibility.

It is so hard to see your loved one like this, but we know it had to be done and will make her so much better in the long run! I know many of you have had similar situations and know how hard it can be. I can't thank you enough for your comments, thoughts, prayers, phone calls, texts, etc.