On Sunday the doctors removed the breathing tube that was providing support to Emma during her surgery and MRI. She was on very low settings so we thought it would be straightforward.
Unfortunately she wasn't too happy about it and was working very hard to breath on her own. The combination of her narrow airway (caused by the small chin) and probable swelling caused by the tube was making it harder.
In the end they put her back on the ventilator, though this time she just has a tube pumping air into her nose. She has improved but I believe she is still working very hard. They have given her medication to reduce the swelling and extra oxygen, but her CO2 levels are still fairly high.
(She keeps her mouth open so half the air goes straight out!! they have a pacifier in to try and keep the pressure up! She seems to young to have to be told to keep her mouth shut!!)
Yesterday was tough as I wanted to tell them to put the tube back in, but that is just delaying the inevitable. I can only imagine the anxiety of parents whose children have asthma, in watching them struggle to breath. Helplessness does not adequately describe the feeling!
Her stomach has not shrunk much, but it looks less full (go figure!) and seems more comfortable. The nurse last night was even able to lay her on her tummy. She pooping like, well, a champ! So we just need to get past this breathing issue (a minor thing, right!!) before they can start feeding her.
Please join with us in praying that her lungs can bear the load for her once more and she can be weaned completely from the ventilator support.
We are not optimistic about Emma being home for Christmas, but miracles do happen - and the hospital is on 34th Street (really, it is!!!)
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