Here is Hope without a breathing tube and without any drainage tubes. I took this before they put everything back to get rid of the pneumothorax. Notice her mittens...this is to keep her from taking everything out on her own.
Well...everyone knows that Hope does everything just a little different than expected. This post would have been so different 4 hours ago. At 6pm, Hope was extubated and had no drainage tubes. Her sats were in the mid 80s and she was waking up and trying to take everything out. Feisty as can be...which is no surprise to anyone. Fast forward to 6:30pm...Hope's sats start dropping and I get worried. The cardiac nurse was in the hall and I flagged her down. She was concerned and paged respiratory to see if they could come and suction Hope out a little. Well...in the meantime, Nancy (the cardiac nurse) took a look at Hope's x-ray. Pneumothorax...it is now a word I don't really like. I had to google it to see exactly what it is because they talked about it a lot and it scared me:
A collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, is the collection of air in the space around the lungs. This buildup of air puts pressure on the lung, so it cannot expand as much as it normally does when you take a breath.
I guess when they took out the drainage tubes earlier today a little air must have gotten into her chest. This caused the air pocket near her lungs which in turn caused her lung to deflate. So, in went her breathing tube because of the sedation and her low sats. In went a drainage tube to get rid of the air. My little girl is again sedated and resting comfortably for the night. She is right where she was last night. I am going to pretend today didn't really happen so that when everything is removed tomorrow (hopefully), it will be a happy day like today.
Please pray that the drainage tube worked and the pneumothorax is gone. Also, prayers for another great extubation would be nice too. I don't think they will do it tonight, but I am pretty sure they will try in the morning.
Thanks for all the prayers. They really are working beautifully. Hope just likes to keep everyone on their toes.
Oh Paula what a scare! I am sorry that you both had a terrible day. I will pray that she has a better day tomorrow. Sending you an extra tight ((hug)) today.
ReplyDeleteKeeping Hope in my prayers today. Take care. ~Angie Montgmoery
ReplyDeleteIm hope she improves enough to get the tubes removed today and they stay out this time!!! Praying for you!
ReplyDeleteDelete above comment 3/10 at 7:10am....It is some JERK! (feel free to delete this one once you remove that one!)....
ReplyDeleteHope and Ethan sound a lot alike. They always keep their nurses busy. Ethan's lung also collapsed but because of the effusion. I'm hoping and praying for a better day tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteOhh, I'm sorry to hear that. But, thankful it's just a minor setback in her recovery. I believe that happens quite often and the recovery is normally pretty quick. We had a roommate on the general floor who had to go back to the PICU because of a collapsed lung and he was our roommate again by the next night. Praying that Hope will recovery quickly from this and get her one step closer to home!! Heart hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that her extubation didn't work out well on the first attempt. I am saying extra prayers for the air to be gone and the next extubation attempt to go much better!
ReplyDeleteStef, Ryan, Wyatt and Logan
www.whenlifehandsyouabrokenheart.blogspot.com
Oh my heart sank for you as I know how emotional it is to see them degerss. But I'm sure this is just a minor setback and you will be posting happier news soon. I will be keeping Hope in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Michelle
www.withallmyhearts.blogspot.com
My prayers are with Hope tonight! May tomorrow be a much better day!
ReplyDelete