Sorry that we have not kept up - the last few days have been busy. Christopher and I are alternating shifts so that Sophia isn't ever without one of us. She is recovering well although the last couple of days have been hard.
Thursday they closed her chest and then were able to take her off a couple of medications (her IV poles, three of them, were laden with all the various medicines she needed). They were going to close on Wed but Dr. Hanley said to wait one more day to get more fluid out of her system. On Th she finally started looking like our lanky little one again.
Friday they removed another line, this one went into her left atrium and was there to monitor the pressure. They also decreased (e.g. dopamine) or stopped (e.g. epinephrine) some of the other medications and stopped her morphine drip. Friday night was when things became more difficult, Sophia, especially for a new born is very alert. Without the heavy medication she now realizes that she, besides being in a lot of pain, has a breathing tube and so she has been trying to fight it. We are doing our best to calm her. They don't want to give her any sedatives or morphine because that will depress her respiratory system and that is what we need to stimulate to get the tube out.
Yesterday they had planned to take out the breathing tube but when they turned the ventilator down to zero she had some apnea which is common for new borns esp ones that have been sedated. So, they decided to wait another day.
This morning we had the scare that there was some air in her chest cavity. It turns out was a small bubble and they were able to remove most of it through one of her chest tubes (she has three tubes still in her chest to keep draining excess fluid from). So now we are waiting and watching to see how she does when the turn the ventilator down...hopefully there will be no problems and they can take the breathing tube out. It is really hard to watch her struggle against it. Christopher and I are amazed at Sophia's strength and resiliency plus she is still the sweetest baby. I will try and post again to say if they were able to get her breathing tube out...
Sunday, April 8
recovery update
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3 comments:
Getting the breathing tube out is the very worst it gets. Once you get past this it will get much easier. Zoe was a fighter too which the nurses tried to convince us is the best way she could be but when she was fighting the tube it was very hard to watch. It will get better. I pray Easter will be a new beginning for Sophia and for you as a family.
It is so very hard to watch them fight the tube, but it also takes a strong fighter to get through this part. I am sure that it means so much for her to be able to see you and know that you are there. Each day that goes by with one more line out, one less med, is one step further along in her recovery. Thinking of you and hoping for a smoother day ahead. Hugs to Sophia. - Josephine
Step by step, line by line - we were relieved to read your lastest update. Although we are concerned about the various medical issuess, we also realized that Sophia is a strong little girl with lots of energy - all the best and hope you found an easter egg.
Bodil, Tuuli and Rolf
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