Jeffs Musings

So, as I said earlier we were able to get a room at the Ronald Macdonald house here in Calgary. It’s across the street from the hospital and I can’t say enough good stuff about it. Great rooms, resources, kitchen, staff, etc. I stayed late to let Donna sleep a bit at the hospital so just got back in. The House is decorated beautifully so it does feel like home.  If we do have to be here over Christmas, this will be a great spot to be.

Now about staying for Christmas … Caitlyn is doing her darndest to get out of here. She went on 3, maybe 4, walks today. The last one she did much of it on her own. She is feeling stronger, her heart rate is good, her oxygen saturation is good, and she is eating ok. She is careful, when we get her out to walk, that we don’t mess with her “oxygen” and she typically wants a change of gown when she gets back. The normal ward is quite different than ICU. In ICU you are babied and if you even think that you need the nurse, they show up. In ICU we got to use nice big plastic cups (beer cups) but in the ward we have been downgraded to small paper cups. Also, in the ward the nurses have tons of other patients that they need to check in on. In ICU, each nurse had one patient. So, we are adjusting to doing more of Caitlyn’s care ourselves and when you think about it, it’s as it should be. We’ll be taking her home eventually and need to be comfortable with the care she needs.

Tonight they took the suction off her chest tube and are monitoring the drainage. If not much has drained, there is a good chance that she gets the tube clamped and then removed later tomorrow. Then, if all goes well, they’ll also remove the IV line in her foot (just there in case at present). Who knows, best case scenario she will also lose the oxgyen tomorrow, too. Then she will, like Pinocchio, be without strings.

We’ve had so many ups and downs that we’re ready for great things tomorrow but also ready for more challenges. Again, thanks for the prayers and well wishes from all.