Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Getting Ready to Extubate


Hope spent the day getting ready to be extubated.  They have lowered her medicine even more and have been lowering the ventilation to get her ready to be taken off the breathing tube.  They also started her on some medicine that will take the swelling down in her throat.  They need to hear a 'leak' before they can extubate her.  I'm not really sure exactly what that means, but from what I understand most people (children included) develop some swelling when they are intubated.  They need this medicine to bring the swelling down so they can take the breathing tube out.

Hope was pretty awake for a few hours today.  Of course, the batteries in my camera died before she woke up, so I couldn't take pictures.  She responded really well to me talking to her, but the nurses again decided that she might be in pain so they gave her some more morphine to make her feel better and go back to sleep.  I love spending time with her when she is awake and recognizing my voice.  I can't wait for her breathing tube to be taken out so I can hear her cry.  It will be the sweetest sound!

Tomorrow is probably the 'big' day for the breathing tube to be taken out.  I am hoping there won't be any problems when they try to take it out.  Please keep Hope in your prayers tomorrow that there are no problems when they take out the breathing tube and that she breathes perfectly afterward and her blood pressure remains good and her oxygen saturation stays where it should.  I know it is a BIG prayer request, but there are so many things that need to happen all at once when they remove the breathing tube.  It has basically been breathing for her for over a week and now she will need to do all the work herself.  I am just praying extra hard that she is strong enough and will not have any problems.

5 comments:

  1. What a big day it will be! I hope it goes well! Just to warn you, you may not hear her cry for a few days because they often lose their voice after intubation. Joshua had no cry for a few days, but it slowly got stronger and stronger. But it's a joy to hear!!!

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  2. Little Hope continues to be im my prayers. Yes, as Allison said, there might be no voice when she cries; For me, it was a bit hard to watch but it will get better over a few days. Andre also sounded very "junky", and the nurses do a great job with trying to clear that out. The first time you will hear her cry will be the sweetest sound to your ears:) I pray for her reoovery, for ongoing strengths for you and your family.

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  3. Praying for you and sweet Hope today. She is beautiful and I can't imagine how your arms are aching to hold her and hear her sweet cry. Know you are so loved!

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  4. avery was intubated fri-wed, off for a day then back on for a day and a half. a minor bump in the road and it was a quick one. her little cry won't be what you expect...she might not even be able to squeak anything out :( a few days later it will be the sweetest sound! avery was 3 wks old monday...she had her norwood at 4 days. i really want to read about hope but WOW it's hard to keep up w/ "the outside world"! hospital hours are weird, huh? they just kind of dissolve and next thing you know it's midnight! i think we might be able to go home next week!!!!!!!! cp: weisdorfer

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  5. Ethan was given the anti-inflamatory as well. I guess it opens up the passage way since the breathing tube irratates it. They would stick a tube down the breathing tube and wait for him to cough or react before they took his out. They told me he woudn't have a cry either, but he did, so you might be surprised. I'm always praying for Hope! Take care mommy!

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