Dad and I arrived today at noon. We brought mom's hearing aids and put them in.
The Dietician Reported: she is providing mom with a diet high in amino acids to aide in the healing process (like the bruise spot on the base of her spine). Mom is also getting extra Vitamin C and iron in her diet as well. The dietician may decrease the amount of food mom is getting in order to help the stomach distention.
"Nurse Ratchet" reported:
-Mom received the air mattress for her spinal bruise today
-Though the wound at the lower spine is not open now...she insists that it will open eventually (pray against this!!) and become ulcerated.
-They are also keeping mom's legs elevated somewhat to prevent a rash on her bottom from the diarrhea from the bowel infection
Mom's Day Nurse, reported: There are traces (extremely small ones) of pneumonia in her left lung but it appears that it is residue left from the trach infection at North Shore. A chest x-ray showed this. The doctor is also examining the phlegm for pneumonia (the results will be back Sunday or Monday). But she assured us not to worry about this. Mom is being given CIPRO in the meantime.
Mom had 2 of the BEST CNAs today!! Jamaican and soooo wonderful!! The best one is Matia--say an extra blessing prayer for her!!
NOW FOR THE BEST STUFF ABOUT TODAY!!!!MOM OPENED HER EYES 5 SEPARATE TIMES!!!! ALL THE WAY OPEN!!!! WIDE EYED!!!
The first time this happened was when one of the CNAs was trying to sit mom up straight in the bed (something that we've watched done many times before). But as she moved mom, mom made an annoyed face and opened her eyes wide open!!!! And kept them open for a good 2 minutes while the nurse adjusted her. She briefly closed them and opened them again 2 more times. Then, she closed them again. Dad started yelling excitedly: "OH MY GOD!! SHE'S OPENING HER EYES!!!" We both started to cry!!
Mom then proceeded to prove the team from yesterday all wrong by having a really alert, active day with dad and I. She moved her head, leg, foot, hand... She made new faces. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't (just did the eyebrow lift thing she does). She also tried to lift her right arm higher and higher repetitively until she actually touched her nose with her hand a few times!! At 2:55, a respiratory nurse came in to suction her and change the filter in the vent---at the 3rd suctioning, mom made that annoyed face again and fully OPENED her eyes 2 more times!! WIDELY!!! and for several seconds.
Mom also did a lot of yawning today which is new...Big, huge yawns...15 total between 12-3:30.
She was moved to a reclining type of chair out of bed today as well.
She responded in an alert way (tracking, making faces, flaring nostrils...) to the vanilla and frankincense again too.
I told the Speech Pathologist, all this and she was happy to hear it all. She also told me that when she worked with mom today she noticed that Claudia and I were right, "You guys were right. I noticed that if the room is quiet and nothing is going on, she is still and not alert. But as soon as I began to 'mess with her' like you guys said to, she become more responsive." God bless Shelby.
Mom became sleepy by 3:30 so dad and I left.
When we returned at 6:50, mom was still sleepy...could be aroused but not like in the afternoon. She did all the above things (not open her eyes though) but much more infrequently and slowly. She seemed tired. Like a DULL ALERT type of state. She yawned a few times too.
Mark 10:2727 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (This is the sign I hung in her room today!!)...Love to all deeply--keep praying friends. Kathy
No comments:
Post a Comment