Little Bella has captured the hearts of our family and everyone that meets her. We want to share her story with all.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Getting Ready

Lat night they started doing volume supports.  She did well, so they increased them to 2 hours off, 4 hours on.  She is tolerating that very well.

Today they are getting her ready to be extubated tomorrow.  She is receiving more blood.  She is receiving some steroids because her throat will be swollen from the tube.  They went up a little on her sildenafil and down a little on her NO.  They went down a little on her PEEP (pressure at the end of the breathe).  She will be receiving a couple of breathing treatments (while still intubated) to really open up her lungs.

Goals to accomplish before we can leave ICU:

  • must get off NO (I was incorrect about this.  I thought she had said we would go home on nasal cannula NO, but what she meant was we would extubate to NO)
  • her line in her tummy must come out
  • she must be off milrinone

Goals to go home:

  • all the above
  • get off oxygen
  • eat and gain weight

The surgeon also felt that her last chest tube could probably come out tomorrow.  Jason is going to see a whole new kid.

4 comments:

Shasta said...

How exciting!!! Keep shining those rays of hope Bella! Mom will be holding you soon and giving you a new "Pebbles pony tail" in no time.
Shelly I will be thinking of you at Time Out for Women. I will try to take good notes for ya:)

Heather said...

Another great update.Keep it up Bella ... your in the home stretch!!!

Cammie Heflin said...

Yeah! I've been praying for her improvement! Such good news!

Claudia said...

Gettin`ready for going home then ;-)

Good to hear. I am sure Arabella will do great the next few days, before leaving hospital.

Fingers crossed!
~ Claudia