The new trach tube was inserted after she went to the surgery suite at 8:00 pm Tuesday evening. This tube is a little longer that the original one. The doctor also cauterized some sources of blood leakage.

On Wednesday the therapy folks let her sit up a little bit on the edge of the bed. When her duplicate trach tube arrives (as a back-up) they can work more aggressively on having her sit up and get into a chair. She wants to get up and get around. Today she indicated she wanted to go the gift shop. I wondered what she was trying to say. She made a motion like she was turning a big steering wheel.

She will get a swallow evaluation probably tomorrow and then maybe she can eat again. She like the popsicles!

She seriously misses having the dogs around.

Virginia's procedure was to be an add-on case and occur about 5 or 6 pm. Finally about 7 pm the doctor came by her room. We were bumped by an emergency case that would take until 10 pm. He re-adjusted her trach tube as it had come out just a tiny bit. That made it easier for her to get a good breath. We will be on the schedule for tomorrow sometime after 3 pm for the doctor to clean things out and insert a longer trach tube.

We switched her from room seven to room eight. Here we can use a new ceiling-mounted lift to make repositioning her extremely easy.

Monday July 24, 2006

One of the day shift nurses confirmed that the ENT doctor is going to replace her trach tube with a longer version. This won't involve surgery but they will use the operating room as they have all the tools and the anesthesiologist handy.


Sunday July 23, 2006

Virginia was asleep when I got off work at 3;30. The nurse said she just got to sleep about 2pm and to let her sleep. So I went home. Just before going a nurse said that Virginia may need a longer longer trach tube inserted as she was having too much trouble with the current tube. This is something that would be ordered and inserted during a short visit to the operating room. She estimated this could happen by Tuesday.


Saturday July 22, 2006

Virginia ate a partially frozen Boost milkshake and some popsicles. Her fluids have to be “honey-thick” so she can swallow better. She seems to eat these OK but she is needing some suction after we are finished.

It is hard for me to read lips but I can make out the word “popsicle” quite well.