Ryan is doing fantabulous! He is still extubated (yeah!) and the longer he is off the vent the more confident I am this is for real. He started last Wednesday on 12 liters of oxygen per hour at 80 percent, and he is now down to 8 liters on 60 percent. They will continue a slowwww wean until he is completely off the oxygen.
Unfortunately, his right lung continues to be a problem – it is not inflating properly and appears wet on x-ray. They (his nurses) are giving him chest PT, which is believe it or not simply pounding on his back to break up his secretions, aka mucus, so he can cough it out of his lungs more effectively. It also helps to hold him in an upright position which I was able to do for three full hours on Wednesday – I even have the baby spit on my shirt to prove it. (who else gets excited to have baby spit on their shirt?)
He is minus one more medication leaving him with only two oral anti-anxiety/sleep meds and tylenol as needed.
People are asking when he gets to come home and the answer is – we don’t know anything concrete right now. To leave the cardiac ICU (CICU) he must be at lower than three liters of oxygen an hour. He can be on three or under on the Heart and Kidney Unit (HKU), also lovingly referred to as ‘the floor.’ But, his right lung needs to right itself because at a certain point a compromised lung will prohibit him from tolerating less oxygen.
So, one of our biggest prayer concerns right now is that right lung. It has to inflate properly for Ryan to continue moving forward. And then, dare I say it, we can start talking about the H word. Until then though, the girls enjoy visiting their brother on their days off school and he continues to enjoy them. Here are some pictures and a video from the other day. The girls are playing with a gel pillow used under a patient’s head to keep it from flattening. First they made pizzas and then birthday cakes.
One last image ….
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (14)
It is amazing how versatile children are. I love to see pictures of them playing on their brother’s bed. And he is just snoozing away, not even bothered by their chatter. So cute and heartwarming. Thanks for sharing with us.
We continue to pray for Ryan. The Lord has brought him so far and we are convinced He will bring him all the way through.
Lots of love and prayers,
I think its so cool how he rests so easily with them playing close by. The last pic is my favorite! The girls seem very proud of Ryan…so sweet! I’m very glad he is doing well, and will continue to pray for you all…and especially for that lung to clear ;). Love ya!
Richelle
The girls are just adorable as they play on Ryan’s bed. I am glad that they are wanting to be so close to their little brother.
This has been such a long road for all of you,…but praise God you are thinking that you may actually be seeing light at the end of this tunnel!
I will keep praying.
Love, Linda @ Truthful Tidbits
That’s such awesome news! Yay Ryan! Praying you guys get to bring him home soon.
I absolutely love that last pic of the three of them. What great big sisters Ryan has. Just precious. Continuing to pray for you all.
Continuing to pray for Ryan and all of you! Hoping that the H word starts getting mentioned very soon. Cute pictures of the girls.
Love, Tyra
That is so cute! They are in bed with him just hangin’ out. Soooo Do they say Ryan has a collapsed lung or is it just “wet” and has not expanded completely yet??
Keeping you all in prayer.
Amazing. I can’t believe Ryan is only on 2 meds! That’s fantastic! We’re praying for his right lung to improve. By the way, I love the last pic.
-Julie
K-tribe: Ryan’s lung is not collapsed, just not expanding the whole way.
Julie: Just for clarification, Ryan is on more than 2 meds… just two for anti-anxiety/sleep. He is also on 2 diuretics, aspirin, heperin, one for blood pressure, and possibly something else I’m forgetting. However, 2 oral anti-anxieties is great considering a few weeks ago he was on 4 anti-anxiety drips. 🙂
So happy to hear that Ryan is improving. I love watching your girls hang out with their little brother, and I can’t wait for the videos of Ryan chasing after them 🙂 I am praying that his lung will improve and the “H” word will be talked about soon!
Blessings and prayers,
Leslie from Arkansas
Great to hear he is doing better. Keeping you in prayer. Also, did you know the children’s yard sale is this Sat at Mack Truck. Let me know if you will be up. Love ya! Amanda L
I love those pics of the girls with Ryan… so precious!!!!
It’s so cute too see all three of them together, they are so adorable!! I’m glad to hear that things are looking up for your family, I’m still praying for you!!
It’s also nice to know that my little sisters aren’t the only ones who instruct their playmates on just how they are supposed to play. 😉
Love and prayers to you all,
Anna