Bob and I are learning our way around. Texas Children's is huge. Twenty one floors, 471 beds. the ICU alone has 31 beds. I've found the food court, the gift shop, the chapel, the mail box, and I know where the car is in the garge relative to the ICU. Not being able to settle and sleep in Eric's room, and not having a "hospitality room," I feel a bit like I'm camping . . . trudging to the public restroom to brush my teeth and washing my face with paper towels. After trying to sleep in that waiting room last night, I've considered sleeping in the parking garage in the third seat of the van. Then I'd feel like I was camping on a rainy night with a leaky tent, escaping to the car. But tonight, I'm showering and sleeping in the on-site Ronald McDonald House. Woo-hoo.
Eric has had a good day. We 're weaning a bit on the vent. Current settings; PSV 26, CPAP 10, FiO2 .70. His SaO2 is 98% at the moment (I had to look twice) and an end-tidal CO2 monitor says 40. An earlier ABG PCO2 was 50. (Does anyone remember 120 just yesterday?) He's still sedated but not totally out. He's communicating well. On the downside, his blood pressure is way too high, but the docs want to see if it will come down by itself because he's auto-diuresing (peeing) significantly. He had sonograms of his arms, legs, and heart today. Legs were normal, arms had a few small venous clots, likely due to all the IV insertions/attempts over the past month. The heart report isn't back yet. Tomorrow is a CAT scan.
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16 comments:
Sounds like they're covering everything thoroughly and keeping a close eye. I'm glad you'll be able to get a good night's sleep tonight. I pray you will.
Thank you for such detailed updates--even though most of the time I have no idea what you're saying. I'm sure we'd all go crazy with worry if we couldn't hear from you.
I feel very good about where you are. I'm praying for the doctors, the entire medical team and especially for you and yours.
Love you much and I'll be so thankful when you and Bob and Eric are back home living normal lives with Andrew.
Miss you!
jess
Thanks for the update, Angie. I've been wondering about y'all all day. Tell Eric Quentin hello from Quentin.
So glad to hear from you again. I know you are dealing with a whole new set of challenges, but sounds like you are all doing very well.
The prayers are still rising.
Kimberly
Oh Mrs. Dilmore I just caught the url of your blog. Mrs. Breaux sent us an email updating us on Eric. I could never imagine what this time is like for you and your family, but you guys are in our thoughts and prayers.
Shakes head.... it seems like just yesterday Eric was sitting in my class for the first time since you guys moved all the way down here to the south.
I wish I had words of wisdom and such, but alas I really don't. But I can say our God is a VERY VERY big God and I know He is watching out for you and your family. I pray that He will heal Eric soon. I can only imagine how weary you and your family must be, but I pray that God provides all the strength and endurance you guys need during this trail. I can say that after the loss of my mother this past year, I learned just how Sovereign our God really is. He is strength. He is hope. He is peace. He is joy. He is healing. We are so fortunate to have such an awesome God who loves us even when we don't deserve it. I pray that through this He strengthens the personal relationships you guys have with Him.
Anyway... sorry for the "ramble". I sometimes fall off the deep end. :) Tell Eric I said hello and I am keeping him in my prayers.
In Christ,
Ms. Harmon
Angie - Thanks for the updates on Eric's progress - and your journey, too. Good to hear that Eric has had a good day.
One of my friends and her entire family (minus her recovering daughter, of course) stayed in the Ronald McDonald house for weeks and weeks. In fact, her son enrolled in school in Houston. The arrangements were a real blessing for their family.
It is so smart to get as much sleep as possible - even though I imagine sound sleep is a real challenge for you and Bob at this time.
Here's hoping and praying that every day this week is a really good day for Eric!
Hey Mrs. Dilmore,
I was home this weekend visiting my family and my sister told me about Eric and I saw this blog on Katie Neil...err Johnson's blog. I am so sorry to hear about all of the trouble you have been going through. I will keep you and Eric and your whole family in my prayers. I hope everything continues to improve and that you can go back home soon.
On a side note, I cannot believe how big your boys are now... I still think of them as the little pre-k/kindergarten Vacation Bible School students that I helped teach.
In Christ,
Sheena Sands
Angie and Bob,
Thanks for the update. We will be checking the blog often. Our prayers with ya'll and the doctors. Take care.
Susan & Bobby
I'm glad to hear you all are finding your way around Texas Children's. It is a huge place with tremendous healthcare! We are praying that the doctors, nurses and other professionals will figure out exactly what is going on and help him get better soon. If there's anything we can do in LC for Andrew or your family or via long distance PLEASE let us know. Love, Sara, Mark and Rachel
Dear Angie,
It sounds like Eric is doing much better today. I hope that you and your family are resting a little easier as well.
We are praying daily for the medical team to heal Eric and to give you, Bob and Andrew strength for each day.
Love and Prayers,
Michele, Norm and Kyler
Hi Angie and Bob:
While I have not written every day, I do read your posts every day and continue to pray for Eric and all who love him. Do know that you are in our thoughts and prayers continuosly. Ann and Lenn Knapp
"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand."
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
This is the day the Lord has made we WILL rejoice (it's a choice) and be glad in it. This is going to be a great day for Eric. Blessings on your entire family. God loves you.
Hey Bob Angie and Andrew~~ big exhale after reading your blog today quite a change from yesterday Yeah, and ALL PRAISE to JESUS THE RESTORER!! In Nov, we got a little taste of "the hospital stay in a strange town experience" when Paulson has his femur broken in a freak accident during a frisbee tournament in Virginia- We also benefited from a Ronald McDonald house type of service I sure was grateful for the much needed shower and Paul was happy about a bed and yes finding our way around the place and our car in the garage was also a challenge!!!! thanks for letting us take part in this journey with you- your testimony is touching hearts and minds for his kingdom... 'Burg Bev
Dear Angie - We look each day to see whats happening. Please know you, Bob, Eric and Andrew are in our thoughts and prayers. Dick keeps asking "How is our boy in Houston doing?" And he doesn't mean Todd, our son. Love you all. June
I'm so sorry about Eric's condition, but we must keep our faith and our hope. You and your family are in our prayers always. Please tell Eric I hope he gets better soon!
Angie, Bob, Andrew & Eric,
This is Adrienne Daigle, from Moss Bluff UMC. Rev. Penn has been keeping us updated about Eric and we've been praying for him since we heard of his hospitalization. Don't know why I didn't ask for this site before, but I did today and I just read your entries back through early March. I am so glad to find out that Dr. Thompson was his pulmonologist here! He is mine, and I love him dearly! He found out the cause of my lung problems back in'05. I've told him I wish he could be my 'everything' doctor. I trust him completely, and I know Eric received the best care he could have through Doc and his associates. Now that I have found this blog, I will keep up with Eric's progress. God bless each of you, especially Eric, and we will continue to pray for him!
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