Last night Caitlyn took her first steps since she came into the hospital. Since then she has been walking quite often. The physio was here today and we walked around to the family centre room – nice view of the ski hill. Her lungs seem to be better when she’s moving so we’ll slowly get her moving more and more each day. They are debating whether they should clamp and then remove the second chest tube – hopefully that will happen today. She is developing an apetite but a small one. I’m having to finish a few of her meals.
In her new room there is a little bed in the window alcove. Donna and I took turns sleeping there and in a chair last night. Donna had a parent room but last night @ 9:00 they came and told us that she had to vacate – a little interesting as we didn’t have other accommodations. Thus, we took turns in a chair last night. Someone must have come into ICU and needed a spot. Fortunately today the unit clerk found us a room at Ronald MacDonalds – #207. I’m not sure how long we’ll have to stay but at least we’ve got a spot to get a rest.
Day 20 of our …. (Tanner will get this one.)
We got moved. It felt good to have her in transit in a wheel chair rather than a hospital bed. We were surprised at how much stuff we had accumulated in the room but were able to move stuff in one trip. Caitlyn met her new nurse, new RT, new pediatrician (both resident and “real”), and new physiotherapist. The physio had her standing a bit and blowing on windmills and noise makers. It was quite fun. Her new room is real nice. She didn’t get to share a room with anyone but is by herself. Nice bed for parent, lots of space to put her stuff. We are in Room 4124 so if you wanted to call, call the Alberta Children’s and ask for our room. They have taken all monitors off her except for blood oxygen level and heart rate. The only tube connected is the left chest tube. If it’s stopped leaking much, they will clamp it and maybe take it out tomorrow. We have certainly been blessed in Caitlyn’s recovery. We’ll miss the excellent folks in ICU; many doctors, nurses, RTs, and housekeeping staff that were super with Caitlyn. A good day today. Caitlyn has been awake most of the day. She had her nights/days mixed up so hopefully this will mean that she’ll sleep well tonight.
OK, we’re not moving home but we think we’re moving out of ICU. We have enjoyed the medical staff in ICU and they have been great. No more monitor watching just waiting for Caitlyn to get strong enough to go home. I”ll post more after we move.
Caitlyn remains in ICU but has improved lots. She got her right tube out today (ask Donna about that ordeal) but still has the left tube in. She’s almost ready to move to a regular ward but there are things they want to ensure are fine with her. I spoke with her again on the phone today and it was a great feeling. Not sure if we’ll make Christmas. It’s been hard to get in the spirit without her and Donna at home. However, as I said before, it is great to have Tanner and Jessica at home. They are a great help and are getting after the baking and decorations and such.
More tubes were taken out yesterday either by the medical staff or by Caitlyn herself! Jessica and I spoke with her on the phone yesterday. I don’t think I wrote this yesterday but one of the first phrases she said after getting the ventilator tube out was “Where’s Tanner?” Hopefully a few more tubes (chest) today, and a move out of icu to the regular wards and then home for Christmas. You can always hope but she has lots of barriers to pass before they let her come home. We certainly have been blessed. Again thanks for your prayers on her behalf.
Two more to go. Caitlyn is now off the ventilator! Great news! She’s still wearing a mask that helps keep her oxygen up but she inhales and exhales on her own.
The other two tubes have been draining her lungs. No word on their removal? Then she has the art line and various intavenous lines, too. One a day us fine with me as long as they are coming out and not going in, I’m a happy camper. Her xrays have been improving as have her stats.
So, it has been 2 weeks today that we took Caitlyn in to the hospital in Taber. After two weeks much has transpired. It has been full of both heart-wrenching and heart-lifting moments. We appreciate everyone who has expressed concern, said prayers, visited, send gifts, brought over food, cleaned, shoveled, ETC!
Caitlyn had a pretty good night. I’m getting things second hand from Donna so keep that in mind Her xrays aren’t showing what the medical staff are seeing in her oxygen levels and other numbers. Her oxygen was down to 30% (goal 21%) and her PEEPs at 6 (goal 5?). Given that she was on 100% oxygen and 16 PEEP, that’s pretty good progress. They have talked about timeline for taking out the tube and when she will move from ICU to a regular ward but we’re not holding our breath (sorry). We might be holidaying in Calgary which will be fine. Jessica gets home tomorrow from Edmonton. Tanner and I are looking forward to that.
It’s amazing how we are learning the medical lingo. Today they changed Caitlyns “art” line. An art line (i think) is a needle that is inserted into an artery through which you can give drugs and test blood. As you can imagine it was quite an event. At the same time they retaped her breathing tube and redressed her left lung tube. We talk to the staff about sats and maps and others. Not ready for nursing school yet, though.
Overall a positive day.
It’s amazing how we are learning the medical lingo. Today they changed Caitlyns “art” line. An art line (i think) is a needle that is inserted into an artery through which you can give drugs and test blood. As you can imagine it was quite an event. At the same time they retaped her breathing tube and redressed her left lung tube. We talk to the staff about sats and maps and others. Not ready for nursing school yet, though.
Overall a positive day.
This journey resembles bike rides i like to go on: lots of hills. Last night it seemed like We reached the top of an uphill climb. Knowing that there are more hills to come it was still nice to appreciate the hill.
It was good to get back up to Calgary to see Caitlyn. She seems to have improved since the last time I saw her. It was good to get Donna a bit of rest: she went out with Darryl & Sueanne last night and then I slept in Caitlyns room while she had her first decent sleep in a long time. The pressure they have to put in her lungs has dcreaased over night to a peep of 7. At times during the past two weeks we were at 16 where normal is 5.
Last night we watched Mary Poppins and it was the first time in two weeks that I saw her smile. It was good to see!
Thanks for all your support.