Elena Update, Tues, Oct 27 '09, 0830

Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:43:17
Subject: Elena Update, Tues, Oct 27 '09, 0830

Good morning wonderful people!


Ok, the latest:


Sunday: 10.25.09


1. Re-cap: Elena's thorocotomy went very well. Dr. Bryant did an excellent job and ended up removing approximately 1 cup of goop from her R lung. Due to its thickness, it wouldn't drain from the lung once the chest tube was put in on Thursday, that's why we needed to move forward with the thorocotomy.


2. Dr. Bryant took an x-ray immediately following the procedure and it definitely showed improvement, since all that goop was removed. Originally we thought that her R lung was able to fully expand immediately following the procedure. Her R lung is still working on fully expanding. Continue praying for that! Thanks.


3. They needed to give her about 150mL of blood during the procedure.


Monday: 10.26.09


1. All her vitals have been stable.


2. Her temp has only gone up once since she's been in the PICU. It was either Thur or Fri and it had gone up to around 100 or 101, but they gave her some Tylenol and her temp subsided.


3. Her body has received both blood transfusions excellently--once on Fri following the original chest tube insertion (I think the day before due to her hemoglobin & hematocrit dropping a little.) and then one during the thorocotomy.


4. At this point she will remain on the ventilator (& the PICU) until Friday (plus or minus a day or two) just to monitor her lung healing process.


5. She has been metabolizing the sedatives they've been giving her...almost too well. They had to switch up her meds yesterday, because they weren't keeping her sedated like they should have been.\


Here's what we're looking for:


1. Overall progress.


2. Improvement in her x-rays from morning to morning.


3. Vital signs remaining normal.


4. Beginning the weening process off the ventilator (towards the end of the week).


5. Ultimately: quick & total recovery/healing from this whole thing!


--We're waiting to speak w/the doctor this morning: Tuesday.


Thank you again for all your thoughts, words & prayers!!


At this point, I apologize for not being able to respond to each person's individual texts, calls or emails, but know that we ARE receiving them and DO appreciate them tremendously!



Oh...please continue to pray for the medical staff as well. They're doing a super job!


Also...please include Elena's bedside "neighbor", Daylen (4 yrs old), who is also healing in the PICU from a very serious pneumonia.


Again...thank you, thank you, thank you for your prayers.

Sincerely,


Noble
Mark 11:22-25
Romans 4:17-21