Day Three Post-Op

Ack, sorry everyone - seems we have been extra busy since last night, and I am just now able to sit down and write.  It's clear that a gazillion people are waiting for updates, because that is about how many text messages I got today!  The silence really didn't indicate anything was wrong...

So for an update... we actually got here earlyish this morning (just after 9am) so we could catch them taking out her chest drain.  We arrived to find that they had already removed a bunch of bandages and her nasal cannulus - no more oxygen!  We were also surprised to hear that we might go HOME today!  That turned out to be optimistic, but it does look like we will go home tomorrow.

They did then remove her chest drain tube and also her pacemaker leads.  That leaves only her new IV and her arterial central line (in her thigh).  The central line is the last thing to go, and that just before we leave, so likely tomorrow morning.

Her x-rays (lungs) looked good this morning, so no more vibration treatments, and no more suction.

Mystery rash

A brief scare as a bizarre mystery rash suddenly appeared in her armpit.  We noticed it as the nurse was connecting her feed and it was about the size of a quarter.  Within fifteen minutes it was at least five times that size, and several nurses came in to look at it.  They drew a series of dots around it to see if it was still spreading, and it stopped.  I'm convinced the dots were the solution.  Throughout the day it slowly faded...

We both got to hold her and feed her today, which was nice.  You can tell she is still uncomfortable, but quickly returning to her normal self.  Even caught her smiling this morning - this time without the help of sedation!

She got a visit from Grandma and Stacie this morning which was nice, and Aunt Kathy this evening.  Have had lots of conversations with nurses and doctors preparing to go home.  Will have a few medicines to administer this time around.  Hoping to go home without oxygen equipment - one of the reasons we will stay one more night is that her oxygen saturation has been up and down today, so they wanted one more night to observe.

We also took part in a video being shot at Ronald McDonald House.  We were interviewed and may be part of a documentary that will be released later this year.  I'll post the link when it is available.

So a very busy day.  Hope no one was too worried.  If we do go home tomorrow I may not post an update until tomorrow night - fair warning!