Out With the Oscillator, In With the Conventional Vent!

Apparently, Jude was done with the oscillator today: Throughout the morning, he was breathing over the vent a lot, he was seriously distressed (i.e. making the "crying face," flailing, elevated vitals), and his blood gases were getting steadily worse, with his CO2 levels continuing to climb. His chest x-ray revealed some lung collapse on the right side and some persistent pulmonary edema. At this point, the medical staff began to consider that perhaps Jude was trying to tell them that he didn't "like" the oscillator anymore and was ready to move on to the conventional ventilator. Their suspicion turned out to be right!

Around midday, Jude was switched over to the conventional vent, and he adjusted to the change very well. As the afternoon wore on, his blood gases looked a lot better, and the gas readings became much more consistent with minimal variance. And finally, after several days of appearing to get very little rest, he sacked out. He was even sucking on his gastric suction tube while he was sleeping. :)

We're so thankful to God for this move in the right direction, and, of course (!), we never would have anticipated that it would happen in this way. Please join us in praising God for what is shaping up to be a good day, and please continue to lift Jude up with us and ask our Lord that He will protect him over the next two days and prepare him for surgery on Monday.



    Bless the LORD, O my soul,
        and all that is within me,
        bless his holy name!
    Bless the LORD, O my soul,
        and forget not all his benefits,
    who forgives all your iniquity,
        who heals all your diseases,
    who redeems your life from the pit,
        who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
    who satisfies you with good
        so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
(Psalm 103:1-5)