Quick update to a long day. Doug was doing much better today. When I came in this morning, Doug greeted me as I walked in the door. He was much more verbal and not experiencing any pain. The Gaberpentin he was given, was very effective for his nerve pain. Yea! Last night he got a great night's sleep.
Today he experienced very little pain. They are giving him a new respiratory treatment that is breaking up some of the mucus in his lungs. This is great because his lungs are still very crackly. He does not have a very strong cough because of the weakness of his diaphragm. And so when he coughs most of the mucus stays at the back of his throat. He needs a suction to expel it. That was my job for most of the day. The good news is that it is loosening. The bad news is that he really needs help getting it out.
The best news today is that Dr. Olani talked to our insurance doctor and he was able to get Doug's approval to be moved to Vibra. Yea! That is a relief. However, Dr. Olani is still concerned about Doug's consistent oxygen saturation and his lungs. I don't anticipate a move now until Monday. I am not sad about this. I am glad he is with people who know him right now. He is still very sick and weak. He is moving his fingers and toes a little bit now and can feel his body if you touch it. We are so thankful for these improvements.
Again today, he was very concerned about having me leave him. He feels very vulnerable. He is vulnerable with not being able to move or even scratch on his own. With the mucus in his throat and not being able to get rid of it, makes him feel like he can't breath. He is still very worried he may die. I try not be leave him for long.
And so we pray:
Holy God: On this day of light and hope, we are so thankful for the care of Dr. Olani, to advocate for us, and to get the approval from the insurance company. We are thankful that Doug's pain is under control and that he is continuing to show improvements. We are also are thankful for our dear friends and family who have come to our aide with prayers, visits, shoveling our sidewalks, bringing me coffee and loaning us a car. We ask that you stay with us and guide us on this path and help us to choose the right way at every turn so that Doug may continue to heal. In your name we ask it, Amen
We are all praying for you and Doug. I was so pleased to hear the improvements,but it has to be frightening not to be able to breathe. I feel so badly I cannot come hug you.My prayers are with you. God is with you.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the improvements are very real. It seems interesting from here, so far away. We were very worried that Doug was going to die a couple of weeks ago and now that doesn't seem as real to us. I suppose that we was not conscious that of course he had no awareness of his state. I feel like he is on the path, a slow hard path, but on the path.
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