Hi Erin, I don't mind you asking at all!!

She's kind of at a plateau. They're taking another ultra-sound of her lungs on Monday....she has liquids in her chest and they want to make sure they aren't between her chest cavity and wall. If it is they might have to insert tubes to drain the fluids. She's got so many tubes and drains and ostomy bag, she looks like a pincushion the poor thing!

This is a woman who's never had a problem with her kidneys, bladder, heart, small intestine, diaphragm.....now they're all at risk. Obviously spending the past 7 months in the hospital has taken its toll. When one organ has problems, it's a chain-reaction.

She still has the ventilator in, and her diaphragm is so weak she finding it hard to breathe for long periods on her own. They're having another consult with the team of doctors on Monday......there's a very real probability they will do a trach on her. Apparently they look worse than they are. It will actually be better for her. It'll be easy to just disconnect the oxygen so she can breathe on her own, and get her lungs and diaphragm working for short periods of time, then it's easily hooked up again. Now with the breathing tube, it's down her throat into her lungs and has to be removed and
re-inserted......not able to be done frequently.

Step-father was up to the surgical floor yesterday and met some of the nurses who looked after her prior to her going into the CCT.......and they said they miss her. She's a terrific woman they said. (One brought her the first rose out of her garden and the man pushed her bed to the window so she could see a marvelous sunset, a few weeks ago). So she is well thought of.

This is definitely taking its toll on her, and she's showing signs of despair which she had never displayed before.

You're right Erin, the emotions are definitely a yo-yo. We go from great happiness seeing the positive strides she was making to horror and fear when she has such severe set-backs.

Thanks again, I'll keep you posted.

Aw, Jas......what a beautiful woman, and brave too. What a fighter. Prayers being said for her and her and her family.

((jasdip))

Awww, what a cute little lady!! I can see why all the hospital folks love her, with that dynamite smile. Well, I guess plateau is better than downhill.... I'll bet she'll feel somewhat better when they aspirate the chest fluid--maybe that'll improve her mood a little. One thing that's amazed me is that even after all this time, she's been (up to now) so cheerful. What a gal, what a gal. Keeping you both in my prayers.

They put the trach in her this morning. I was hoping this would enable her to talk, but no, not for a long time, will she be able to.

As long as the ventilation tube is in her lungs, she won't be able to. She also can't drink anything, as they don't want to risk aspiration. Understandable, but she's thirsty. She can only use a swab to moisten her lips with.

She's getting better at writing, so she's making her wants/needs and thoughts known via pencil and paper.

Bless her sweet soul, Sherry. I hope that she is comfortable and that one day soon you are able to hear her voice again. She certainly is a lovely woman, very pretty!

She has a wonderful warm smile. Hope she'll improve in the days ahead.