Thursday Afternoon Update

As usual, Courtney isn't following the normal pattern or the one we had hoped she would. They had told us to expect 7 -10 days in the hospital, we were hoping for 5 -6, but now we are not sure how long we will be here. The doctor told us this afternoon that he expects her to be on biPAP for "a while". I asked him how long that meant. He said it was totally dependent on her.

The issue is that they aren't sure whether the haziness in the x-ray of her lower lobes of her lungs is secretions that she hasn't been able to clear or that the lobes have collapsed. So, they are starting antibiotics in case it is secretions to treat it before it becomes infected and they increased the peep pressures on the biPAP to help open her lobes if they have somewhat collapsed.

She is a lot more irritable this afternoon because she does not like the mask on her face and she is not able to drink as much as she would like to. However, she did give a big smile and wave to our pastor when he came by to visit and to Aunt Judy when she came by this afternoon. Kelsey showed her the basketball that the DCA girls & coaches signed for her and that also brought a smile to her face.

We will not be weaning her off the biPAP today, but hopefully will be able to start tomorrow. It will depend on how she does as the oxygen level is weaned and how her lungs open up with the pressure & CPPD.

We have started feeding her via the Mic-Key button, the ART line was also pulled out this morning, and Robin is getting her up now and letting her legs hang off the edge of the bed. So we do have some progress being made.

Keep lifting up those prayers.

Thanks,

Randy