Heartening Conversation with Don
I just had a really encouraging conversation with Don and he said I can share some positive developments.
~ Linda had surgery this morning to insert a permanent feeding tube. The surgery went really well and she is sleeping in her room.
~ The Do Not Resuscitate Order has been TAKEN OFF her chart, not just for the surgery. It's OFF.
~ In addition to being able to move her head a little to the right, she can now look right, left, up, down, around the room. She can look whereever she wants with her eyes. Don says this makes it difficult to understand yes and no answers now because sometimes she just wants to look around.
~ She can clear her throat voluntarily.
~She can cough, as in cough for real.
~During hospital physical therapy the other day, the therapists (PT's) helped her to sit by the side of the bed for 8 minutes. Her head kind of flopped around (Don's words) so they had to help her hold it up.
~ Today, the PT's helped her sit by the side of the bed (feet off the bed, sitting on the side of the bed), and she was able to hold her own head up!!!! She still needs some assistance with it sometimes, but this is very encouraging.
Linda laughed today during physical therapy. They were talking about a baby's reflex of grasping things tightly and Don said after Ellie was born, he suddenly understood why apes have hair all over their bodies, because Ellie likes to grasp his chest hair and pull. He said the PT's reported that Linda was shaking with laughter at this.
~For those of you who, like me, were wondering about the feeding tube, I found out the following this morning (working with doctors has its advantages! I have been questioning them mercilessly, each doctor gets his or her own question):
You need a feeding tube even though the IV could keep you alive indefinitely because you need to use your gut or it will atrophy. You always want to be using your gut for feeding because that is why you have it, and it's the most efficient delivery system for nutrition.
Don does not think Linda needed intubation during the surgery, but removing the DNR would have made it possible had it become necessary.
Don seemed heartened today, as am I.
He asked: If anyone is coming down to visit tomorrow morning, he needs something, so if you could call him: 573-815-4108.
He will post tonight-- his Tips For What to Bring to the Hospital If You Decide to Have a Medical Emergency. It's not what you'd expect!
I just had a really encouraging conversation with Don and he said I can share some positive developments.
~ Linda had surgery this morning to insert a permanent feeding tube. The surgery went really well and she is sleeping in her room.
~ The Do Not Resuscitate Order has been TAKEN OFF her chart, not just for the surgery. It's OFF.
~ In addition to being able to move her head a little to the right, she can now look right, left, up, down, around the room. She can look whereever she wants with her eyes. Don says this makes it difficult to understand yes and no answers now because sometimes she just wants to look around.
~ She can clear her throat voluntarily.
~She can cough, as in cough for real.
~During hospital physical therapy the other day, the therapists (PT's) helped her to sit by the side of the bed for 8 minutes. Her head kind of flopped around (Don's words) so they had to help her hold it up.
~ Today, the PT's helped her sit by the side of the bed (feet off the bed, sitting on the side of the bed), and she was able to hold her own head up!!!! She still needs some assistance with it sometimes, but this is very encouraging.
Linda laughed today during physical therapy. They were talking about a baby's reflex of grasping things tightly and Don said after Ellie was born, he suddenly understood why apes have hair all over their bodies, because Ellie likes to grasp his chest hair and pull. He said the PT's reported that Linda was shaking with laughter at this.
~For those of you who, like me, were wondering about the feeding tube, I found out the following this morning (working with doctors has its advantages! I have been questioning them mercilessly, each doctor gets his or her own question):
You need a feeding tube even though the IV could keep you alive indefinitely because you need to use your gut or it will atrophy. You always want to be using your gut for feeding because that is why you have it, and it's the most efficient delivery system for nutrition.
Don does not think Linda needed intubation during the surgery, but removing the DNR would have made it possible had it become necessary.
Don seemed heartened today, as am I.
He asked: If anyone is coming down to visit tomorrow morning, he needs something, so if you could call him: 573-815-4108.
He will post tonight-- his Tips For What to Bring to the Hospital If You Decide to Have a Medical Emergency. It's not what you'd expect!
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