Sunday March 29

A few updates for you today. When I went in to see dad I noticed the settings on the ventilator -- they are great. Oxygen is at 40% and PEEP was at 50!!!!!! WOO HOO. But they are still having to try dad's breathing tests slowly. Yesterday during the test his heart rhythm started acting crazy so they had to stop the test. Hopefully they will try again today and that it will go better.

Dad has been so swollen (his hands look like they could split open at any second) because of all the fluids they have been giving him. Yesterday the doctor finally felt that maybe all the fluid retention was interfering with dad's breathing and maybe his blood pressure. So even though dad was getting something for the fluid it has now been upped and he gets it twice a day. The medicine they are using for this is Lasix .

The blood they gave dad yesterday did what it was supposed to do. His hemoglobin went up 2 points, its still a little low but lots better than it was.

Today is the 10th day that dad has been on the ventilator. I knew that they didn't want to go past 14 days but I didn't know what that really meant. Dad's nurse today said that IF he gets to day 14 for me to be prepared for the doctor to want to do a trachea . I am hoping and praying that we don't get to that point. That wouldn't mean that dad wouldn't get better and come home but I just don't like the sound of it. I worry about dad being cut on even more.

Is that all? I think that is all that has happened since my last post.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me.

Kathy