Update on Vivian - 7/5

Notice how the respiratory therapist used one of the stuffed Percy cats to prop up Vivian's ventilator tube!

Today marked Day 11 in the PICU for Vivian. Her progress continues to be steady, albeit to an observer painfully slow.

This morning Dr. Fanning told us that Vivian's chest x-ray showed a lot of fluid in her lungs and was not enough improved from yesterday to justify removing her ventilator tube. That decision was fine with Robert and me as we certainly don't want Vivian coming off the ventilator and then needing to go back on it. I gathered Vivian's bicarbonate levels must be acceptable because Dr. Fanning did not mention that number needing to improve before we proceed with extubation. Dr. Fanning increased Vivian's Lasix to draw more fluid off her body, and he has begun to decrease her sedatives because her breathing off the ventilator will be better the more awake she is.

A technician takes a new chest x-ray of Vivian every day at 3:00 a.m. Tomorrow Dr. Fanning will review the latest x-ray upon his arrival. If the x-ray meets his standards, Dr. Fanning will discontinue Vivian's nourishment and remove her ventilator tube roughly six hours later (around 2:00 p.m.).

I have prayed specifically for some signs that Vivian's brain did not suffer tangible injury as a result of her high fever. Today Vivian had a few moments where she opened her eyes and squirmed her head and mouth (in an effort, I think, to figure out the tube in her throat). She seemed to respond appropriately to my voice and touch, though she was still very groggy so I can't be certain. I put her headphones on her ears and turned on Dumbo on her *phone* (what she calls her iPod Touch). When I asked Vivian if she would rather watch Madeline in London (her other favorite movie), she moved her mouth, perhaps in an attempt to answer, though of course she can't speak while intubated. I was encouraged by these reactions and hope they mean that the Vivian we know and love will emerge from this Sleeping Beauty we've been attending for the past two weeks.

We greatly appreciate your petitions on behalf of our family. Please pray that Vivian will tolerate the extubation process and begin to breathe on her own. Kindly continue to pray for peace and patience for me, as the doctors have warned that it may be several days before we can tell much about Vivian's mental state because of all of the sedatives she has received. Offer thanks for the wonderful doctors, nurses and therapists who care for Vivian. Most of all I implore you to pray for Vivian's brain and lungs, that they would be healed and made whole again.

At the risk of sounding like an old Bartles and Jaymes commercial, thank you again for your support.


"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13