Some positive progress today!
I am not sure if my updates have been really coherent for the last few days so let me recap.
Chris has been intubated and on the ventilator since his surgery on Thursday. He is not ready to breathe on his own because of the multiple fractures he has to his ribs. It is a difficult cycle of being sedated because he is in a lot of pain, yet needing him awake so that he can participate in moving around so that he can get his lungs opened up. This is very difficult to do with the kind of injuries he has.
Today he had a procedure done to put in a trach. He is still being ventilated, but through the trach instead of by tube. Although this sounds like a step down, it is actually going to be great for him. There is less likelihood for him to get an infection and he is less uncomfortable because he does not have a tube down his throat. In addition, because he is more comfortable he won’t require as much sedation. That will help him to be awake and alert. Hopefully that will help him to be able to start regaining some strength and to be able to get up and around.
Yesterday when he sat up on the side of the bed, he was lifted there. He is not yet able to sit up or anything like that on his own yet. I have not spoken with him yet and it will be awhile before he will be able to speak, although he will be able to communicate in other ways.
So prayer requests –
– That he would be as comfortable as possible.
– That he would be able to start moving around and get his lungs opened up.
– That Chris would be able to be weaned off the ventilator.
– That we would be able to come back to Beaufort soon.
Our children are all doing well and are happy at their locations. One has even requested schoolwork! (Nothing like positive peer pressure!)
I am doing much better today. Chris looks a lot better, and I am happier with a plan that is moving forward and not just waiting.
Thank you so much for your continued prayer, support and help. We appreciate it so much.
Love
Charlotte
