On The Collar

Cathy began a ventilator weening trial around 7 this morning. First the ventilator was changed to a pressure support mode. Cathy struggled, but like the trouper she is, pushed through it. Her blood gas CO2 went a little high (60's), but the doctors were not overly concerned. At 11 am she was switched to a trach collar at 40% oxygen. Again the trouper in her kept at it. Did I mention that all this was done with only a quarter of one dosage of pain medication and being jostled around as the nurses dealt with 'other issues'? After a little over one hour on the trach collar her blood gasses held steady (CO2 still in the 60's).

Cathy is still on the collar. I wouldn't say she is going strong, but she is still going. She is doing it with an intense concentration and that Cathy stubbornness.