After a long night with the MRI and little sleep, Thomas had a quiet day Monday. Your resident blogger spent the afternoon with Thomas and Natalie, watching Jeeves and Wooster (he tried to mime the piano in the theme song) and catching up on all the local gossip. He continues to practice swallowing with ice chips. And he had his first taste of something when we snuck him a sip of grapefruit flavored fizzy water!
Most of his energy is going towards fighting the infection. He has a fever, and a lot of congestion in his lungs and around the trach. He continues his lung treatments to shake up the mucus. He was off the ventilator three times during the day, and breathing entirely on his own. His respiratory therapist for the last few days has been Allison, a sassy brunette who likes to give him a hard time (which is great). But she's also very patient and very supportive. Allison explained that he wasn't to get discouraged by being off the ventilator for only 45 minutes, because, his lungs had to relearn how to behave. She compared it to exercise: that his lungs are being stretched and strengthened, but that at some point each day, they will make it clear they are tired and can't continue on their own. When Thom is on the ventilator, it is still set at CPAP mode, so he is doing breathing on his own, only being supported by the ventilator.
He is able to suction his mouth himself, building dexterity. He sat in the chair for 5 hours, napping part of the time, and working on his breathing.
The main goal right now is to get a lot of rest so that the infection goes away. They are hoping for surgery on Friday, but it is dependent on the infection.
Join us in prayer!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
6 comments:
We are happy to forward along all well wishes!
Comment moderation is on; all comments will be screened; no uncharitable comments will posted. We are hopeful in people's generosity, and consideration, but may disable comments in the future, as necessary.
Thank you for your prayers and understanding.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Someone needs to tell that Sassy Brunette what Thom thinks of exercise...
ReplyDeleteI imagine the infection is likely MRSA, which is sadly very common in hospitals and can be stubborn to treat. Will offer a Divine Mercy Chaplet that the infection is gone by Friday. Glad to hear that he is progressing so well, otherwise!
ReplyDeleteSo, I've been reading Thomas' blog and keeping up with him on Facebook and Twitter ever since I discovered him. As a stay-at-home mom of two very young children, most of my friends seem to exist in the internet anymore, even if they don't know I exist. ha ha I was so upset when I heard about his accident! It felt like it happened to a close friend. I'm praying for all of you! Glad to hear there's positive progress.
ReplyDeleteWe will keep Mr. Peters and his family in the Royal Family's rosary intentions. The MRI can be trying since it can be long and loud; we suggest the Litany of St. Joseph;
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/litany-of-st-joseph.html
and if the technician can play music an MP3 can be found here;
http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/litanies/joseph.htm
The Latin can be found here
http://www.fisheaters.com/litanystjoe.html
and the audio in Latin is linked here
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/01/podcazt-114-sing-those-litanies/
Please feel free to contact us if you wish; King Richard survived a rather large cerebral hemorrhage a decade or so ago so the King and Queen have insight into dealing with this sort of 'event'.
-Richard, Rex Edani
royaledan (at) gmail (dot) com
we will email ou phone number if wanted
From your friends in MD, we're praying you get better soon! The world needs more men like you.
ReplyDeleteKeep fighting the good fight.
Today's saint (Saint Peter Chrysologus) said:
ReplyDeleteNow that we are reborn, as I have said, in the likeness of our Lord, and have indeed been adopted by God as his children, let us put on the complete image of our Creator so as to be wholly like him, not in the glory that he alone possesses, but in innocence, simplicity, gentleness, patience, humility, mercy, harmony, those qualities in which he chose to become, and to be, one with us.
It seems, Thomas, that this is the season for your "innocence, simplicity, gentleness, patience, humility, mercy, and harmony." May you be one with your Creator as you bear this trial. Praying for you to His Sacred Heart and to Our Blessed Mother.