It's a slow day here at DC Children's, made even slower by the fact the cafeteria does not open until 7:30am instead of 7 on the weekends. And trust me, after a night spent either on the couch (think 5 feet long, 24" wide) or in the chair (that works against you every time you shift), Bec and I needed a gallon of coffee-apiece.
It's been a good last few days. Very much routine at this point: meds given, IV lines cleaned, x-rays taken at 6am every morning, fluid/food intake jotted onto dry erase board, chest tubes drained, "muck" measured. Lily is very happy, chatting up a storm with the nurses she likes. She took a particular shine to Craig, a young black nurse who is new here in heart and kidney. The other night they were talking up a storm at 3am as he changed her diaper and took her vitals.
Several of our weekday nurses came to say goodbye to us yesterday-"We might or might not see you on Monday!" So, we're trying not to get our hopes up, but everyone is indicating we are close. When she first came out of surgery, Lily drained over 250cc's of "muck" from her chest cavity over the span of a few hours. Over the last twelve hours, she has only drained 40cc's, so we are very much headed in the right direction. When the tubes dry up, we are out of here.
I will try and get some photos and videos up later. There is no wireless Internet here, so all updates have been off my iPhone and it refuses to let me upload from my Photos.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Moving Fast
As I sit here with Lily in my arms, I am amazed at how fast things are moving. I just chatted with Dr. Jonas at length 30mins ago. He already wants to know how we plan on transporting Lily home. He wants us to fly she and Becca home so we don't get stuck on the road if complications arise.
We were moved (rather suddenly, actually) out of intensive care this afternoon to the heart/kidney wing. Next step is checking out. I still think we have another week here and there is no rush. But it is amazing how fast she is healing.
I know Bec and I are feeling more relaxed, that's for sure. I got out this afternoon and stretched my legs for a run in the rain.
We were moved (rather suddenly, actually) out of intensive care this afternoon to the heart/kidney wing. Next step is checking out. I still think we have another week here and there is no rush. But it is amazing how fast she is healing.
I know Bec and I are feeling more relaxed, that's for sure. I got out this afternoon and stretched my legs for a run in the rain.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Continued Progress
Another great day here at the CICU at DC Children's and with it continued progress by Lily.
Bec spent the night with her and said that it was pretty peaceful and when Lily woke up this morning she looked around and asked, "Dada comin?"
During the morning rounds, Dr. Jonas swung by to chat with Bec and she said he was very pleased with Lily's progress.
Later in the day, the doctors began removing some of the lines from her chest and even let her sit on Becca's lap (where she promptly fell asleep for almost two hours).
She's drinking apple juice and this afternoon I fed her some chocolate pudding, her favorite.
I have the bedside shift tonight and Bec is going to finally get some sleep.
Bec spent the night with her and said that it was pretty peaceful and when Lily woke up this morning she looked around and asked, "Dada comin?"
During the morning rounds, Dr. Jonas swung by to chat with Bec and she said he was very pleased with Lily's progress.
Later in the day, the doctors began removing some of the lines from her chest and even let her sit on Becca's lap (where she promptly fell asleep for almost two hours).
She's drinking apple juice and this afternoon I fed her some chocolate pudding, her favorite.
I have the bedside shift tonight and Bec is going to finally get some sleep.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The End of a Good Day
Bec and I are switching out nights at the hospital, so she's there tonight and I am about to jump into bed and catch up on some sleep. I am continually amazed at how strong Lily is. Right before I left the hospital the nurses extubated her which is fantastic for the day of surgery, so she's breathing on her own. It was great to hear her voice again, albeit was a little raspy from having a tube in it all day.
Dr. Donofrio swung by and chatted with us for a while. She said the key indicator of Lily healing is the chest tubes and how fast they drain the "muck" from her chest cavity. She said it could be days, it could be weeks, but so far everything looks really good.
So glad this day is over and that it went well.
Dr. Donofrio swung by and chatted with us for a while. She said the key indicator of Lily healing is the chest tubes and how fast they drain the "muck" from her chest cavity. She said it could be days, it could be weeks, but so far everything looks really good.
So glad this day is over and that it went well.
Success
Lily's surgery is done. We met with Dr. Jonas a short while ago. As I have noted before, he is a very calm, direct man. He says what he needs to and that is it.
He walked in to the consultation room (where we had been sitting on pins and needles for 20 minutes) and said, "It went well and it went exactly as we talked about the other day. Do you have any questions?" We really didn't- I asked about being on the bypass machine for 70 minutes, he said that was much shorter than her first surgery.
We are in the CICU waiting room. Lily is being cleaned up and is in her old room from her previous surgeries. We get to see her in about 30 minutes.
To say that Bec and I are relieved is an understatement.
For all of you who were praying, thank you. The next 24 hours is critical to see how her body handles the new bloodflow pattern and how well it gets rid of the fluid caused by surgery, but Dr. Jonas noted as he left, "If she was going to have any major problems over the next 24 hours, we likely would have seen something during surgery."
He walked in to the consultation room (where we had been sitting on pins and needles for 20 minutes) and said, "It went well and it went exactly as we talked about the other day. Do you have any questions?" We really didn't- I asked about being on the bypass machine for 70 minutes, he said that was much shorter than her first surgery.
We are in the CICU waiting room. Lily is being cleaned up and is in her old room from her previous surgeries. We get to see her in about 30 minutes.
To say that Bec and I are relieved is an understatement.
For all of you who were praying, thank you. The next 24 hours is critical to see how her body handles the new bloodflow pattern and how well it gets rid of the fluid caused by surgery, but Dr. Jonas noted as he left, "If she was going to have any major problems over the next 24 hours, we likely would have seen something during surgery."
Lily is on the bypass machine
Has been for 45mins. Should know something soon.
Praying, sitting, periodically checking how my man Ryan Hall is doing at the Boston Marathon. In the lead last time I checked.
Praying, sitting, periodically checking how my man Ryan Hall is doing at the Boston Marathon. In the lead last time I checked.
The first incision has been made
Just got our first surgical page: "First incision was made at 8:50am."
Here we go!
Sitting with Ned, his Becca, my mother-in-law and my dad.
Here we go!
Sitting with Ned, his Becca, my mother-in-law and my dad.
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