Morning Status - Cruise Control

Sara had a nice restful night. When I left she was sleeping very closely to how she normally does. (I periodically go into my kids rooms at night and watch them sleep...I always have). So, when I left I was quite comfortable that she was getting exactly what she needed most.

This morning I came in and she continues to do well. I was called early this morning to authorize a PICC line (also called a central line) that will give them real good access into a vein (superior venacava - just above the heart). This is more of a long term access (weeks...) and lets them discontinue the myriad of smaller IV lines currently into both arms. This will make her much more comfortable and allow us to start some therapy with her hands, wrists, and forearms.

She continues to do well breathing, but is showing signs of another pneumonia. They have cultured her lung output and will start her on antibiotics as soon as the culture grows something they can specifically identify. They no longer just blast a patient with broadbased antibiotics, as that builds resistence for future infections. Her respiratory therapists are very on top of her breathing ability.

Nurse-Carlo just told me that she did grow Staphloccocus aureus out of her culture and they are starting the IV antibiotics on her now. So, she does have a touch of staph-based aspiration pneumonia. We've heard a lot about Staphloccocus aureus in the news, specific MRSA, which is Methcillin Resistant Staphloccos Aureus. She does NOT have MRSA. The staph she has is normally resident in the nasal passages, etc. and doesn't really affect us, until aspirated into the warmer, moister environment of the lungs.

They are also giving her some Lasix to pull excess fluids off of her tissues. She's getting a little puffy, and her right hand is downright marshmallow. so, she'll be shedding the excess fluids and it will make her more comfortable and heart not have to work so hard moving the excess.

Her cranial shunt is continuing with fairly steady output. The neurosurgeons have started raising the resevoir above her head. This will start encouraging her natural drainage pathways in the brain to start moving the fluid the normal way. They move it a little, watch her intracranial pressure (ICP) and if it doesn't go up, then she's circulating and draining normally. They suspected that the normal drainage pathways became swolen with the rest of her brain injuries. We expected the swelling, but not the buildup of the fluid.

So, right now she's resting after them putting in the PICC line. She's basically on cruise control...rest, wake, communicate a little, rest...

Today, her beloved cat Dusty gets to come for a very short visit. The cat has been in mourning, having no concept of time...he just knows she's been gone a week. When I talked to her about her kitty a few days ago she cried a lot. I know she misses him terribly. The visit will be a big source of comfort for both of them.

I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and thank you to everyone who has been donating, calling, helping in any way. Your support is felt all the way from your heart to Sara's room. There is no way I can express enough gratitude for each of you.

Loving thoughts...

Kristina