Off the respirator

Well, they took the breathing tube out last night.  He seems to be making progress every time we come to see him, so that is great news.  There are still a few things that are not so great.  He still hasn’t gotten the chest x-ray to pull his chest tubes out and he ran a fever yesterday.  Obviously they are worried about infection and are running a blood culture and kept him on  the antibiotics he started after surgery. 

On a positive note, after E came off the respirator he seemed to be much more comfortable.  He is still on a morphine drip, but is off any other sedative/pain killer meds.  He ate a little bit last night, first through the tube and then by bottle.  He also wasn’t running a fever when we came in this morning.  The nurse said they are going to try to pull his chest tube, remove his central line and arterial line, and move us upstairs to the regular ward today.  We would be in a 2 patient to 1 nurse situation, so that would be much better than what we had on the regular ward in Cambridge. 

Our biggest concerns right now are the potential for pneumothorax and associated problems after his chest tube comes out, and heart infection from the surgery.  He seems to be doing well with the other stuff, and I think it is a little too early to expect any change in his feeding.  I know it may be wishful thinking, but I continue to hope that Emmett will come out of this with improvements in his feeding and mental development.  Thanks to everyone who has encouraged us with notes, emails, and phone calls.  I think Lauren may post again later today, so stay tuned for the latest.