A Rough 24 Hours for Jim

Just when you think things are going to start turning around..something else happens. As you have read, Jim decided to pull out his breathing tube Tuesday evening. After about 2 hours Jim was starting to have trouble breathing and his blood pressure shot up. The team asked him if he would like the tube put back in and he said "yes" (thank the lord). When I came the next morning, he was getting is 2nd unit of blood and his nose was bleeding non stop. The platelets had dropped to 27 and he would need several blood products thru out the day. As I watched the IV drip blood in the tube, his nose continued to drip the blood out. Finally this morning the bleeding was under control from the nose. Now he was coughing blood from the vent tube, which they think is coming from the back of his throat. We just got him cleaned up ad he is resting nicely. They have taken him off of sedation and he has had his eyes open several times through out the day.

Jim still has the rhino virus in his nose and lungs, this may also be hindering the progress with the liver. He seems to be having a very tough time shaking this, even with all of the antibiotics he is on.

Some goods news for the day: we can finally use the PEG tube in his stomach. They have given him medication and all has gone smoothly. Later this afternoon he will have his first nutrition feeding. They are also trying to get him off the ventilator. Today he is on pressure support, which means he is doing most of the breathing with a small amount of help from the machine. If Jim tolerates this well, they will try to wean him off tomorrow. Both big steps to help get him out of ICU and back to the 15th floor at Prentice.

I can't believe tomorrow is Friday and we have been here for 6 weeks already. I am working hard to keep my mind on "one day at a time." This week has brought some anger for me, but I am over it now. Just want to be on the road to recovery.

Keep praying and believing...I am.

God Bless