By Lisa Ansay —
First thing this morning, Taylor’s pulminologist changed his trache tube for a completely different one. This was not a friendly process for T, and he had a bit of respiratory distress when they tried to reattach him to the ventilator. The RT (respiratory therapist) noticed that he only coughed and struggled when the vent was attached. Once removed for him to breathe on his own, it was more comfortable for him. All of this took place while upright in his chair.
His heart rate was high, and it could not be determined if it was the respiratory issue, or he was in pain. He got a little morphine which worked right away to lower heart rate. They added lidocaine to his nebulizer to quell the pain of the new trache placement. Things get pretty irritated when you’re “installing” things so unnatural.
He is running a low grade fever, so he is sleeping soundly with cooling cloths on his skin, while breathing on his own. He got the day off. He has slept all day, with no coughing or distress.
Tomorrow he has dates with PT, and a speech pathologist. They will likely have him in a different kind of trache early next week that will allow him to speak and eat a little.
But for now….he is sleeping. Such a miracle. Not a scratch on him. I just took this and it was dark in his room, but you can still see…
Prayer is powerful.
