A post not planned

Before I could even publish the last post, David went into  respiratory distress. 

‘Somethings.....wrong....’ David says. 

I run to the nurses station right outside David’s door....’Help.’

There were six nurses in here, really in a panic. In the blink of an eye things go from not so good to worse. He was finally breathing and settling down after an RT came. 

The area around the collar is raw and red.  

Did I mention the constant battle between the nurse and the respiratory therapists(RT). 

‘That’s your job.’

‘No that’s your job.’

In the meantime...who suffers THAT 

consequence...

For two days, he was consistently unattended by the RT’s which resulted in clogged up phlegm stuck in his airway, leaking out around his collar, and the tubes so dirty that not much could even be removed. 

Truthfully?  It IS the RT’s job, but the nurses are supposed to have a basic knowledge of doing it as well. Novices they are not, and for someone as fragile as David, the RT’s should do it, for when the nurses push a very thin tubing at least 12” long downbhis trach, they are not very gentle, they do it way too fast, and consequentially barely accomplish anything except making David gag and look like he is not breathing; very disturbing. 

The incision to his stomach was surgery; minor, but surgery just the same. And so, a setback to his physical therapy. He is wiped out, in pain, and just not himself.  It hurts to cough, so he has been unable to cough up the phlegm, which should mean the RT’s should check on him more than one time per shift. 

Which caused respiratory distress. Scary. 

Today they fed him through his stomach tube. He tolerated it, so they removed the feeding tube that was in his nose. Boy, was he a happy camper. 

They also removed the smaller tube on his left side, and now, only one is remaining. Hopefully not for long. Maybe that will be the last setback. Removing the tube and stitching the hole takes a few days to recover. 

Maybe one day he will be able to just go forward.  

Is the RT and nurse rival over?  No. And I long for the day where he will no longer be dependent on someone helping him breath by keeping the airways clean. 

Maybe, just maybe, after the last chest tube is out, the only other hurdle preventing full force physical therapy, is eating on his own. I know he’s ready for that. Liquid steak is just not cutting it...

I am always bringing little memories of home, sparkly lights, pictures, cards, positive affirmations posted on his wall. I can’t wait to tape the card for tomorrow: Don’t forget to be awesome today!  Hoping to keep his spirits up and that a glimmer of light is in his constant view. 

Looking forward to more happy moments. Happy moments that finally outweigh the negative ones. 

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. 

XO

Shelli