Day 19 - Show Me Dark Spots

1/18/21 - Monday

Each time I speak with the Doctor, for some reason the voice in my head goes to the game show announcer of The Family Feud. Not Steve Harvey, the small guy a few seasons before him. (It’s quite a specific voice - 😂). If you can imagine the voice with me ... it goes something like this in my head - in a low, calm, whisper of a voice, leaning in .... “Tell me something that’s showing progesss with James.” Then, while the doctor is speaking,  the voice interrupts my listening and yells “Show me ____” just like the game show announcer.  Today ... it yelled - “Show me Dark Spots” since that’s what we are looking for in his lungs... and ... DING!  It’s on the board!  And ... here’s the morning update: 😆 

Morning: X-ray is slightly improved - bowel gas pattern looks normal and there’s a few more dark spots which shows more air in the lungs. Slightly less respiratory support - Oxygen level 50%. Feed is being tolerated - Up to 7 ML of feed.  Same weight essentially for 2 days.  Oscillator pressure is at 14.5 and 35 amplitude, which we would like to see come down - goal is to be at 10 and 25 within the week. Steroid started last night and we should begin seeing even more progress. 

What’s next? - Continue to advance his feeding to get back up to the 12 ML, Complete the course for antibiotics for the next 2-3 days just to be sure there’s no infection, and get James comfortable by weening him off the ventilator so he can have that tube removed from his throat.🤞

Evening: Weighed in at 780g. Up to 8 ML for feed. Looking to remove his IV tonight since it’s not flushing anyways and they will everything through his PICC line. One less port for now.