Hopefully starting the road to recovery now

As you know Pam has been back in ICU for the last 10 days.  She had her breathing tube taken out last Wednesday and was doing great at first.  Over the next couple of days she tired out and her ability to take in the proper volume of oxygen decreased.  She is so deconditioned that she is unable to support herself very long.  Picture trying to run a marathon with the conditioning of a casual walker.  She ended up having to be reintubated on Saturday.  At this point I went to spend a couple of days with the boys in York, ME with Pam's sister Jen and her family.  That was great for the boys and me.  We got three days of playing together in.
Pam was maintained on the ventilator for a few days as the Dr.'s all discussed the next step.  In order to get Pam stronger we need to be able to let her breath some on her own and then rest, and then repeat.  Picture weight training with a ventilator.  The only way to do this is with a tracheotomy vent.  This involves a surgery where they create a whole in the trachea (throat) to create an airway.  The vent support tube is attached to this.  The air is pushed directly into the lungs bypassing the mouth and throat.  They can take this on and off anytime they want very easily so Pam can spend time strengthening her breathing muscles and lungs and then rest when needed.
The reason this was not done earlier is because it is another source of infection for Pam.  But they really had no alternatives at this point.  She has been intubated 6 times!   Any normal patient would have had a trach tube put in after 2 times.  They also put in a feeding tube directly into her stomach so she can get nutrition more consistently.

Both of these items are reversible and temporary until she can get stronger and breath and eat on her own.  The positives are she can come off some of her sedatives and that her vocal cords can heal.  When they take her off the vent she will be able to talk.  When it is put back on it doesn't damage the vocal cords like the other tube did every time.  We just need to hope for no infection.

Pam is extremely deconditioned and will remain in ICU for several days to a few weeks as they get her stronger slowly.  She is/has been stable in other areas for several days.  We are hoping that this new airway system will start to allow her to recover consistently.

She continues to smile at everyone and give them her winks of approval.  They all love her here and she is receiving the best care.  I will let you know when she can start taking visitors.
Please read my next blog post if you would like to know a small way you can help not only Pam, but others as well.
Troy