We are currently in the process of trying to remove Hannah from most of the medications that are sedating her, in order to give the neurology team their first “real” look into how her brain is actually functioning. We are now about three quarters removed on those medications. Fentanyl has been totally removed. This would lead us, the parents, to the understanding that she is not in any severe pain. She is still sedated, ventilated on a lower level of oxygen, and the suction on the chest tube has been turned off several times in order to see if the lung will remain in its proper position, but unfortunately it has begun to collapse each time. It would be nice to be able to remove the tube, but it’s really not that important at this stage. Also, to this point, we have not been made aware of any seizures, which is the best news of all so far! Should that happen, they would increase the meds to prevent them. For now, we hold at this level for a few more hours, then they will be turned all the way off by the day shift. With each incremental decrease, we wait and watch for signs of change. It’s a tense tough process for us! The suspense weighs heavily on our hearts and minds. Both the anticipation and apprehension combined are truly hard to describe. Like the rollercoaster analogy from an earlier post, our hearts are by our feet and our stomachs are in our throats. This last reduction is the BIG one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did have a finger twitch a few times at the first reduction, but more recently, while clearing the ventilator tube she went through the motions of a cough or gag. This is one of the many involuntary reflexes of the brain, and although a bit difficult to witness as parents, it’s the first of many reflexes that we need the brain to be able to perform.
We really don’t see the doctors at night because typically, visitors are not allowed to stay past 8, although they have made this exception for us tonight under the circumstances. One nurse is assigned to two ICU rooms. They keep a close eye on things from a workstation in the hallway between two adjoining rooms, and a window allows them to see Hannah at all times from their desk. Their computer screens show them everything that is happening with all the vitals. The main nurses have been Taylor at night, Jackie, and of course one named Hannah herself, by day. They are the front line in this battle, with the direction and support of the doctors. Nurses are the primary “face” that we see, and they are doing their job for us with the love that one would show for their own family member. Their positivity, compassion, understanding, and attention to detail are things that perhaps technically are less important, yet make all the difference.
We are blessed!
Two days before this accident, Hannah was up at Bearing Precious Seed in Oshkosh. This was also the one thing that she requested us to do with her, as a family, before she left for her first year of college on campus at Maranatha. Collating, stapling, binding, trimming, boxing Bibles and other portions of the Bible are certainly a few of her favorite things to do, and a highlight of her year. It is incredible how quickly life can change and how seemingly insignificant something can be and still have such devastating consequences!
Hannah Helps 