day 13

Gracie has the best news.....

My mommy is off the ventilator!!!!

That's right...you read it correctly. Sarah is off the vent and no...she won't get trached! Jimi and I walked in this morning and her nurse, Lori, had a huge smile on her face. She said, "it's going to be a great day." I was a little confused. Jimi and I walked into Sarah's room and her RT was there. They were doing weaning tests and Sarah was passing all of them with flying colors. She was on 0 PEEP and doing all the breathing on her own...which is even harder than not being on a vent. It's like breathing through a straw. Dr. Lotten had come in before we got there and asked Sarah if she wanted to go home. Of course she said YES! He told her he was going to give her a late Christmas present and said that because she was doing so well---getting up with PT and everything else---he wanted to give this a shot. If she had a hard time, they would have to intubate again, but it didn't come to that. Thank goodness!

A small crowd gathered...Jimi, Lori, Liz (PT), Rod (the RT that put in Sarah's art line and saw her so sick on the day she was sent to the ICU, and myself. Her RT extubated her and Sarah was grinning from ear to ear. Jimi finally got to give Sarah a real kiss...nope it wasn't a 10 second frencher, but I'm sure it was the best kiss they have had in awhile. She can barely talk, but hearing her quiet, raspy voice was music to my ears!!!

Sarah wanted to surprise my parents so I called them and told them Sarah really wanted to see Gracie. (Yesterday, Dr. Lotten told Sarah that Gracie could come visit every day. He thought that would be the best medicine to help her recover. He's awesome.) So, my parents showed up with Gracie. They walked in and were talking and it took a minute and then they realized she was extubated. They started laughing and cheering. It was another great moment. Sarah was able to hold Gracie and this time Gracie didn't try to extubate her mommy!

She needs to do a lot breathing exercises to keep her lungs healthy and to help them continue to heal. She did those today and will continue for awhile. When I just talked to Jimi, she was on 3L by nasal cannula. She went on several walks with PT. She is in the best of spirits! She just wishes she could drink. That will come. They will probably do a swallow study tomorrow to make sure she isn't aspirating. She will also stay tonight in the ICU and then should transfer to the Intermediate Unit tomorrow.

What a fantastic day! After almost 2 weeks, I can finally sigh in relief. I'm so glad Sarah is doing so well. I know our prayers have been heard and we are so thankful that she is well on her way to a full recovery.

I know many people will want to visit Sarah when she is out of the ICU. Yes, she is doing wonderful, but she still has a ways to go. She needs her rest. All of her therapies will continue and she will be working hard to get out of the hospital. Please call Jimi if you really want to visit. He can let you know how the day is going and if it is a good idea. She is excited to have some quiet after being in the noisy ICU and I'm sure some long awaited, well deserved rest!