Craving Diet Cokes

They are not Lazy Boys, but Cathy and I are kickin back watching TV and enjoying each others company.

Cathy was only able to make it two and a half hours on the trach collar this morning. Tomorrow they are going to try for three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon. If Cathy can make it for for six hours on the trach collar (three plus three), they will perform a swallowing test. If she 'passes' this swallowing test they will remove the feeding tube and Cathy can have a diet coke (as well as real food).

The resident physician said that, other than having to be on a ventilator, Cathy is not really an ICU patient any more - HOW ABOUT THAT!!!! Her health is stable and she is close to being on her home dosages for her medications. With the exception of her heart rate, all Cathy's 'numbers' are good. The doctors do not appear to be overly concerned with the elevated heart rate.

The medical observation rooms here at the hospital are not set up to care for patients on a ventilator, so Cathy will have to remain in the ICU for the time being.

The current goal of Cathy's medical treatment is to give Cathy the best quality of life possible while she waits for a transplant. The resident also said that in a few days, it may be time to start looking into other options for Cathy's care: rehabilitation facility or possibly even home care (insurance coverage will be a critical deciding factor influencing this path). Home care is the medically preferred route because of the risk of getting exposed to bacteria and virus in a hospital or rehab facility. Home care may require in-home nursing care during the day when no one is home.

Well, that's the update for today. I am going to go home tonight and put some diet coke in the frig - just in case.

David