Sara is doing MUCH better

Ok. Sara had a procedure called a Thoracentesis last night. It went very well and she started doing better almost immediately.

Her heartrate had been way up, as were her respirations. For a couple of days she had been laboring with very shallow breaths. To make matters worse, her left lung is full of fluid, so she was working with one lung.

The night before the RT had suggested that it may be best to put her back on the ventilator, just to give her a break. She refused and I supported it. I told them they would have to find a different way to help her. The only exception to that is that they could put her back on the ventilator to save her life, or after code recusitation. I asked Sara if I was right in this, and she agreed. So, the doctors and RTs had to get together and dig a little deeper as to what is going on with her. They are doing a great job doing so, and I am very happy with the current team. They are supportive of Sara and attentive to her needs and goals.

This kid just knocks me out. Even in the midst of laboring to breathe, sweating from the work, feeling like she needs to be suctioned constantly there are two things she wanted to do yesterday: show me she could lift her arms, and have her limbs moved very often and start resisting when they are moved. A M A Z I N G. She's digging in and working that lock with everything she's got.

But, as I left last night, she was much more comfortable breathing, as she is also today. We're letting her rest, although she has the nurses moving her limbs almost every time they go in the room. The nurse today has asked for a neuro consult, as she is obviously doing more things showing readiness for rehab. (although it doesn't technically change her FIM score.)