Today was another good day!   He has had a headache again this evening due to the coughing, but no major problems.  His respiratory therapist had him off the vent (just on C-pap mode) from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  She didn't tell him she was doing it, so he wouldn't be anxious about it.  He did just fine.  :)  O2 saturation stayed at 95% or above.  His respiration rate was a little fast - 30 and above - at times, but he could concentrate and slow it down when reminded.
 
Dr. Mohajen (medical and pulmonologist) came and checked on him this evening and said everything with the chest tube looks good.  He wants to cap it off, get another CT, and see how his chest looks.  I asked him about the low hemoglobin (7.3 today), and he wanted to go study his chart and check the history on that.  I went out to the nurse's station later to see what he'd found, and he said he has asked for a GI consultation to make sure there is no internal bleeding.  It's possible that the strep pneumonia's suppression of the bone marrow is still affecting his ability to make enough red blood cells.  Ron's nurse tonight, Deb, said it does take the body a long time to make blood cells once that process has been interrupted.  She said if they would decide to give him another transfusion, they would give him Benedryl and Tylenol BEFORE they do it since he had that bad reaction last time.
 
Dr. Mohajen said Ron's making good progress weaning from the vent, but he's in no rush to send him back to Regency.  I told him, and Ron's day nurse told him that I don't want Ron to leave here until the tube is removed and he is stable for a couple days if that is possible. I don't want him having heart issues, etc. at Regency, and end up being brought back here again.
 
He's been eating pretty well.  They said if he eats 70% of his meals, they can discontinue his nighttime tube feeding.  He did that yesterday and today, so hopefully, they'll cut that out pretty soon.  I think (pretty positively) it is what is giving him so much gas.  He never has tolerated it well, from the first time they started it.  When the nurses open his stomach peg to give him meds, gas just sprays out of it.  His day nurse today said she regularly sees that from the tube feeding, even though dietary swears it doesn't cause gas.  He's in enough pain!  He doesn't need gas problems on top of the rest!

Ron has really enjoyed reading the cards and messages.  He said to thank everyone for all the prayers and support.
 
We are so grateful for help with things like babysitting for Lauren and Hannah, taking care of the dogs, and covering my classes at school!  It is so much easier to bear with everyone's support.  It seems like a never-ending nightmare...  We both have to remember to relax and breathe...
 
Love,
EJ