Always Something

Now that the long weekend is over and regular staff are back around, everyone is weighing in on what's been happening this past weekend.  The neurosurgeon was surprised to see dad still here as he had ordered ENT to change the trach on Saturday (as we were originally told).  He wasn't sure why the respiratory therapist was making these decisions because the purpose of dad's trach was the throat surgery, not a respiratory condition - an ENT responsibility.  So within a couple hours dad's trach was changed right there in his room.  Mom plugged the hole when I spoke to her and hearing his voice simply say "Hi Kim Kim" was the best sound I've heard in weeks.  Finally some progress here.  We are hoping that this trach will be removed by Wednesday.

Last night was another horrible night with dad.  He required lots of suctioning and chest thrusts so an x-ray was ordered.  Today we learned that part of dad's left lung has collapsed and he also has pneumonia.  High doses of antibiotics were immediately started intravenously.    Dad's "food" has finally been changed and we think the reaction to the old stuff is finally over.  What a busy couple of days it's been for my mom who's been there for 36 hours straight (without sleep).  Brad is taking over the night shift tonight as there is not a P.S.W. assigned to dad anymore (as he's out of the critical stage).
What an awful week but the end is in sight...just lots of hurdles to jump before we get there.