Popsicle, Milkshake & A/C: Beat the heat

Or How does Virginia beat the hottest days we've had?

I fed Virginia a popsicle and a blue colored vanilla milkshake today. The popsicle was dipped in blue thickened cranberry juice. Plus the hospital has air conditioning.

Tomorrow she will be out of bed sitting up TWICE.

Keep the letters coming to

Virginia Tuttle
ICU
Tuality Hospital
335 SE Eighth
Hillsboro OR 97124


Tip: Use the return address of PO Box 433, Beaverton OR 97075.

The First Ice Chip

Virginia had her first ice chip post surgery on Thursday. They gave her a little blue food coloring with it. Sorta like a mini blueberry popsicle without the flavor.

She has been requesting popsicles. She also sat up in a chair for about 75 minutes or so.

Today she will get a little more by mouth and sit up again.

She has been of the vent during the days for a couple of days. The plan is to go 24 hours without the vent as a trial.

If we can drop kick the vent she can start getting out and closer to home. I am hoping we don't have to have the vent so we can avoid having her live at a Gresham rehab facility.

It is easier to have her at home or at least close by where I can visit without driving a couple of hours.

Virginia Sleeping After Surgery

Virginia was wheeled into surgery about 10 minutes to three and was out about an hour later to recover in ICU. Recovery is usually in PACU but the ventilator is in ICU.

I stayed in the surgical waiting area then switched to the ICU waiting area shortly after Virginia arrived back. I had told them I was going to make a quick trip to let out the dogs at home (we live 1.5 miles away) then return to the ICU wating area. I decided not to make the trip home.

I stayed until after the surgery was over. I missed the surgeon after the surgery. I was in ICU reception and the surgeon, no doubt, looked in surgical reception. I stayed until about 5 pm and then was buzzed in to ICU. The nurse said they would have her sleep the rest of the day.

The next two to three days should be exciting to see how well she does.

Surgery Planned Tuesday at 2:30 pm

Virginia had her ventilator settings tweaked a little higher on how deep she breathes (tidal volume increased from 600 cc to 800 cc) over the weekend. The pressure support was lowered to 4 (from 6).

Virginia's doctors wish to "wean" her off the ventilator. Due to multiple problems, they feel she is at high risk for needing the ventilator tube re-inserted. Beside the discomfort, risk of ventilator-caused pneumonia and being bed-bound, she also likely has sleep apnea.

The solution proposed to "wean" her off and treat the sleep apnea is to do a tracheostomy. They mentioned that this is the "gold standard" for sleep apnea treatment.

The doctor posed this surgery her and then to me. I talked with Virginia and she is in agreement. Based on the surgery schedule I expect they will be done before 4:30.

The tracheotomy "hole" would most likely be temporary. It will be hooked up to the ventilator if needed. This will get her out of ICU when she can do without the ventilator.

Her right foot post-surgical wound is quite good. There are two spots left to heal over. Hopefully she can begin to bear some weight.

When she can breathe better I expect her walking will progress much better. She will probably gradually build up strength in her foot and lungs at the same time.

When she can transfer from bed to chair and back she can likely go home.

Bonnie (her mom) visited today in the early afternoon for a good long visit.