Today was the projected discharge date, unfortunately it's not going to happen today. We are waiting for one last piece of the puzzle for Valley Med to render a decision on accepting Jerry to the neuro rehab. The doctor here at Kindred needs to return a call to the admitting doctor at VM, once the two talk a decision will be made. We will hopefully have an answer by the end of the day today.
Jerry has done very well with the red cap he has tolerated it for 6 days now. Typically they could pull the tracheotomy out at this point but Jerry is making to much secretions and needing to be suctioned frequently. The doctor wants Jerry to have a stronger catheter down Jerry's nose to suction which would be very uncomfortable for Jerr. It's kind of a vicious cycle, they need him to create less secretions and develop a stronger cough in order to pull the cannula however the cannula causes a good portion of the secretions and he will likely not get a stronger cough. I'm hoping the doctor will decide to pull the cannula tomorrow, it's always a waiting game. If VM accepts Jerry they will take him even if he's not decannulated, VM could finish the weaning process. Once VM decides to take Jerry we will likely move the following day. I was really hoping to have a decision today, so we could move tomorrow but it's so late in the day now it's likely a decision won't be made until tomorrow.
Jerry finally slept last night after not sleeping for 48 hours, he was delusional, seeing people that weren't there and having bizarre ramblings all night long. I'm happy to report that after a good nights sleep the delusions have subsided, he's much more cognizant and in a better mood, as am I, I was nearly delusional from lack of sleep.
Hoping tomorrow brings positive decisions, ...decannulation & moving to VM. I'll keep you posted.
Katie
2 comments:
Continuing prayers....lots of people praying for Jerry...word out thru Facebook friends, friends of friends, and even Yahoo posters, from a story today, are praying for Jerry to get to VMC...and for strength for you Katie....people are so kind.
SFerry
Graduations abound! As I've been looking at the word 'graduate' I see the operative part of the word being gradual. Isn't that what graduation is, a gradual move from one place or thing to another? Be it graduation from high school or college or a floor in an office building or from one hospital to another, it's all a graduation process.
Jerry's graduated from vent to just oxygen and from the largest trach canula to the smallest and now to none at all.
He's clearly improving. Gratitude for the gradual progression. His smile and voice are so heartening. Neuro rehab is gonna be another notch in the totem pole of his life. Knowing Jer, he'll make his presence known, immediately!
Love you, 100 days!
Trish
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