Seth had a pretty low key day today. Tonight they are keeping an eye on his BP that is a little elevated. He’s on 3 different BP meds and a 4th that’s given as needed to keep his BP <160 (parameter used to be <150). I’ve been told he was hypertensive before the sedation meds, so just residual effects of his brain injury.Temp is elevated at 37.8 Celsius. The nurses exchanged the water out of his ECMO machine to help cool him off more. He’s on the same 2 antibiotics that he’s been on the last 3 days. The sensitivities showed that they should cover the bacteria that was growing in his bronchoscopy culture a few days ago. So just need to be patient and let them work.Seth is still off all sedation meds, but we are waiting for them to get completely out of his system so he’ll start waking up more. Still receiving Dilaudid for pain, as well as Kepra for seizure prevention. Most meds they dilute and give him through his NG tube. Fewer drips now than before.Sodium level was 145 at 5pm, and this evening was 148. His parameter is 145-155, so right where we want it. They are checking less often now, every 4 hrs instead of every 2 hrs.He’ll have his routine chest xray in the morning. He’ll open his eyes just slightly, but not on command. He has a cough reflex too when secretions start building up in his trach tube.He has 3 nurses tonight, including another one learning how to do ECMO. One of them told me I could watch the TV in his room if I wanted (but I won’t). Waiting for Seth to tell me what he wants to watch. I think I’ll read him some poems that his friend, Emma wrote as his bedtime story.-Aunt Kerry
PS, We’ve been blessed to receive meals at the hospital which we eat in the healing garden. Tonight’s delicious meal came with a small thoughtful gift of 5 stones with Bible verses on them.It reminded me of the biblical history of David and Goliath, where David, armed with five smooth stones and his sling, defeats the giant Goliath. The stones represent David’s reliance on God’s strength and guidance rather than his own physical capabilities.May we also rely on God second by second for strength and guidance.-Darcy
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