POD (post op day) 6. It's the sixth day after the surgery. And even though Lucy's recovery is perhaps going a little slower than we hoped, it's still going. Slow progress is still progress. There haven't been too many set backs. Right now she has a portion of her right lung that is collapsed, aka atelectasis. It is probably due to the surgeon having to move it out of the way so he could have more access to her heart. She has a respiratory therapist coming every 2-4 hours to apply positive pressure to her lungs to help inflate the collapsed portion. As uncomfortable as it would seem to have a breathing mask smashed up against her face with oxygen being pushed into her lungs, Lucy takes these treatments like a champ! She actually slept through the last two.
As a natural consequence of the surgery, Lucy's oxygen saturation should be at normal levels -- 95-100%. However they are at 90% today, and have been in the 70s and 80s in the previous couple of days. The doctors aren't quite sure the reason for this discrepancy, but suspect the area of atelectasis is to blame. They may perform an echocardiogram in the next day or two to rule out an area of blood mixing, but I think (and hope!) it will I prove as soon as her lungs clear up.
Can I say how awesome she is at eating?! One of our concerns was how long after the surgery would she need to be on the feeding tube. The way things are looking now, she won't be on it at all! (I hope I don't jinx it...)
Technology is amazing. Not only is my baby girl still alive after 2 open heart surgeries, her vitals being monitored every second, and imaging being performed daily to assess her progress, but I am able to write this post with her in my arms with an app on my iPad. Awesome!
Here is one of my favorite pictures of Eliza and Lucy from this hospital stay:
5 comments:
I'm SO glad she's doing well! Miracles really do happen! I'll bet it's such a relief to have her repair behind you. Johnny has had some atelectasis too. Hope everything continues to progress!
Wow! This whole thing is just amazing to me. I hope they get answers on the lower sats. Still praying! What a strong little girl.
I'm sure she will simply continue to improve on her own time schedule. Girls are stubborn that way. So glad we live in a day and age when we have all this technology to help! Love that little girl!
Liza she seriously is looking so big!! She is so awesome and I hope that she just keeps getting better and better!!!
She's so beautiful! And I can't help but agree that miracles are happening.
Post a Comment