Two Teams, Two Approaches, One Goal

Cathy did well overnight on ventilator assistance only. The ICU team is planning on reducing the ventilator assistance a little more today, and a little more each day, until gradually Cathy will be doing all the breathing on her own.

A fellow physician from the transplant team stopped by early this morning. It sounds like the transplant team is of the opinion that Cathy should be extibated soon, if not right away. "The worst thing that could happen would be for Cathy to need re-intibation". The fellow stated that his school of thought is: "if you are not having to re-intibate patients, you are not extibating enough".

During the ICU team rounds, the resident reported that the cultures taken a few days ago did not grow any virus or bacteria. This is more good news.

Cathy is reporting that she has begun to have pain and tightness in her abdomen. She has also begun to pass a little blood. The doctors are on it, I don't know much more than that at this time.

Cathy is having the line that runs through her neck into a vein removed at this moment. They will replace this line with a 'pick' line. A pick line is a similar line, but this one will enter from her arm, pass up the arm through a vein to a point close to her heart. The current line has been in for about as long as the doctors want. This pick line can be in Cathy for an extended time (for up to a year if needed).

Cathy is progressing every day. The "Cathy team" has the same goal as the ICU and transplant teams. Our approch is through the use of good thoughts and prayers.

Three teams, three approaches, one goal.

David