The goal of intubating Audrey was to be able to send the treatment she was already receiving directly into her lungs. After 3 more rounds of treatments, the morning x-ray showed no improvement in her right lobe. The right side had the secretions in the air sacs inside the lung. The left lung had fluid around it, which was successfully drained with a new chest tube, that should be removed tomorrow.
Since the right side wasn't responding to treatment, they sent a scope down this afternoon and discovered, in the most basic terms, the upper lobe of the right lung (the one with the mucus secretions that won't clear) is positioned higher than normal, and that the breathing tube was inserted in the normal location, past that lobe. They believe that lobe was not receiving the treatment due to its position. So, they repositioned the breathing tube and she's receiving the treatment again until morning x-rays to see if there is more improvement.
If there isn't improvement, they feel like she has a strong enough cough now, that will only get stronger, and that she will be able to clear this lobe and open it back up over time. They just wanted to do everything they can to clear it for her. So it appears they will remove the breathing tube in the morning either way. They are keeping her pretty sedated and comfortable until then, which is good. She will respond to our voices, kick and reach for us from time to time. They say this is mostly a dream-like state for her. The nurses are great about keeping her as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
The really good news for the day is that they removed the 2 larger chest tubes that she has had since surgery. Once she's off of the breathing tube, and they remove the small chest tube they put in yesterday, she'll be down to a central line IV, which can be removed anytime.
The really good news for the day is that they removed the 2 larger chest tubes that she has had since surgery. Once she's off of the breathing tube, and they remove the small chest tube they put in yesterday, she'll be down to a central line IV, which can be removed anytime.
We're still praying that she'll be discharged no later than Friday, but obviously our priority in praying is that she is healthy and ready to leave, whenever she's discharged.
Thank you all so much for praying for her. Please keep it up. God is watching over her.
3 comments:
Glad they are staying on top of everything. Still praying for you all and sweet little Audrey.
Tim and I have been praying for you all and especially Audrey. Monday night we had to take our little girl to the PICU in Johnson City for treatment for jaundice (she's fine now). It was the longest night of my life. I cannot even imagine what you all are going through, but I have a whole new insight into how hard it is to see your baby in such a situation. Hope the treatment goes well and that you have her home soon!!
Aaron, Julie, Alex & Audrey,
What a journey this has been for you all. What a joy to know that the good Lord is watching over it all. What a blessing to have such a wonderful medical team attending to little Audrey. How awesome are you - her loving family.
We keep praying that everything they're doing for her will move her along in her healing, and that you all will get to come home soon.
God bless you all. He has. He is. He will.
Because of Christ, Steve Hill
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