January 17th
Hello! Mom got some good rest last night and will have a swallow test soon! If she passes then she can start to sip liquids and eventually eat! It would also help the doctors recommend a smaller trach. she is also using the speaking valve and her voice is continuing to get so much stronger. It’s almost karaoke ready. She has been doing great on the trach collar with oxygen and hasn’t needed the any extra oxygen support so they took Wall-e the ventilator away. We are starting a new treatment today to help get out the gunk in her lungs. Doctors are monitoring her but feel good about her lungs clearing up! Impressed with her very strong cough. No fever or other symptoms besides a slight increase in thick mucus. The transplant case manager Jay stopped by this morning and said that dr. Ardehali had a really busy day yesterday with three cases and so will try to stop by today. He said that while mom’s CT was impressive, Dr. Ardehali takes on many cases like mom’s and feels really good about him meeting her. She is getting so much stronger every day, really such a miracle - we rejoice with every walk she takes. Did I mention she doesn’t use a walker anymore? Last Friday when we were transferred here she had just started to walk with the ventilator and walker. Now she does 2-3 walks a day with no walker and only on oxygen. They have also switched her to meal times with a bolus feeding of 4 times a day to help her circadian rhythm. They are also weening her off of the steroids (yay!!!!) and doing all of the many many MANY blood work labs needed for the evaluation. If Dr. Ardehali gives her the thumbs up then she will continue with the evaluation and meet the rest of the team for interviews and continued labs.
Mom requested prayers for continued strength. Please also pray for our meeting with Dr Ardehali and the rest of the team here, for peace from anxiety and rest knowing God has a plan bigger then us.
We are happily enjoying the rainy weather from our new room with the big window and hope you all are having a great day too! Sending love from LA.