Off the Ventilator!

Austin has had an eventful day and has done great!  They started overnight by giving him medications to prepare him to come off the ventilator.  First thing this morning they began decreasing his sedation medications to allow him to wake up.  They also turned down the ventilator to a mode similar to a CPAP machine (only kicks in if his breaths get under 8 per minute).  Then a little before 2pm respiratory therapy along with his nurse and Dr. Kiragu pulled the tube!  It was VERY uneventful!  They gave him a nebulizer of epinephrine to help decrease the swelling/irritation in his airways from the tube and then put him on a very small amount of oxygen.  His oxygen levels have remained in the high 90's/100 without it, but it's just a nice little boost to have a hour or so of oxygen!

Since he's off the ventilator, his sedatives/pain control have been cut in half.  They will leave him on low doses for the next 1-2 weeks to let him adjust from the higher doses and continue to provide him pain control from his surgeries.  They also took out his urine catheter and his arterial line (measures blood pressure constantly).  Then as if that wasn't enough, a nurse practitioner who specializes in skin care came and changed his ostomy bag!

The NG (nasogastric) tube in his nose will remain for now!  Dr. Valusek made it very clear this morning that was not to be removed!  It's keeping his stomach empty until they think he's ready.

Uff-da!  Needless to say, that was enough for the little boy!  He's now resting very comfortably!

So, one by one, we are getting rid of spaghetti junction (all his tubes/lines)!

We thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers!  One day at a time!  I will update again today if anything changes, but we're planning for a quiet evening/night!

Love,
Tara and Brian
Max and Austin