After Taylor got over the pressure hurdle, we were told the next major things to watch for were infection and pneumonia. Sometime around Black Tuesday, Taylor developed pneumonia but it has been managed well. In the past week, x-rays have shown the pneumonia was on its way out, and his secretions have, in the past couple of days, decreased significantly.
Early this morning, Taylor was being cleaned and rolled on his right side as he normally does while his linens are being changed. He's able to throw his left arm over me and hug me, so I always look forward to any excuse to get him on his right side. I hug him, he hugs me, the nurse finishes up and Taylor rolls back over. That's the way it works. But, this morning was different. Within a few seconds of turning on his side, he coughed a couple of times which is pretty normal. But, he then began to vomit. It was very, very scary. It's a very serious situation, given Taylor's condition. He can't just jump out of bed like the rest of us. In fact, just to sit him up to help him takes pressing a button to raise the head of the bed. That seemed like minutes instead of seconds. I did what I could to help the nurse until the medical Cavalry arrived. The first person in the room was the respiratory therapist who had just given Taylor a breathing treatment at 12:30am. He was able to assist the nurse until others arrived, then he was able to do a "deep suction" into Taylor's lungs to help remove anything he may have inhaled. A real danger in situations like this is the development of aspiration pneumonia - a really bad thing. He said Taylor did a good job of expelling matter that he may have inhaled and his lungs sounded pretty good. Taylor has done this a couple of times before, but this was the first time I was in the room. No one there knew the panic I was feeling.
Taylor has now been removed from the feeding tube to give his stomach time to process the contents that remain. For now, he'll get what he needs from an IV.
There were at least 6 people in his room helping at one time or another, and it seems like the whole event lasted at least 30 minutes from beginning to end. Although the staff is always as cool as a bunch of cucumbers, I can still tell when they are a little distressed. Some of these folks were a little distressed. I knew the danger was over when I heard someone in the room laugh. My panic was quickly replaced with relief.
It's important that you continue to pray for Taylor. While he has had a remarkable recovery so far, we are still helping Taylor find his way through the woods. I remember a nurse telling us in the first 10 days of this trip that our journey had just started and there would be "some scary things in the woods on your way to seeing light at the end of the tunnel". Tonight was one of those scary things that just jumps out at you completely unexpected but is very serious and very dangerous. So, as positive as his progress sounds - and it IS great progress - please remember he's not out of danger yet. He still needs all the prayers he can get.
Early this morning, Taylor was being cleaned and rolled on his right side as he normally does while his linens are being changed. He's able to throw his left arm over me and hug me, so I always look forward to any excuse to get him on his right side. I hug him, he hugs me, the nurse finishes up and Taylor rolls back over. That's the way it works. But, this morning was different. Within a few seconds of turning on his side, he coughed a couple of times which is pretty normal. But, he then began to vomit. It was very, very scary. It's a very serious situation, given Taylor's condition. He can't just jump out of bed like the rest of us. In fact, just to sit him up to help him takes pressing a button to raise the head of the bed. That seemed like minutes instead of seconds. I did what I could to help the nurse until the medical Cavalry arrived. The first person in the room was the respiratory therapist who had just given Taylor a breathing treatment at 12:30am. He was able to assist the nurse until others arrived, then he was able to do a "deep suction" into Taylor's lungs to help remove anything he may have inhaled. A real danger in situations like this is the development of aspiration pneumonia - a really bad thing. He said Taylor did a good job of expelling matter that he may have inhaled and his lungs sounded pretty good. Taylor has done this a couple of times before, but this was the first time I was in the room. No one there knew the panic I was feeling.
Taylor has now been removed from the feeding tube to give his stomach time to process the contents that remain. For now, he'll get what he needs from an IV.
There were at least 6 people in his room helping at one time or another, and it seems like the whole event lasted at least 30 minutes from beginning to end. Although the staff is always as cool as a bunch of cucumbers, I can still tell when they are a little distressed. Some of these folks were a little distressed. I knew the danger was over when I heard someone in the room laugh. My panic was quickly replaced with relief.
It's important that you continue to pray for Taylor. While he has had a remarkable recovery so far, we are still helping Taylor find his way through the woods. I remember a nurse telling us in the first 10 days of this trip that our journey had just started and there would be "some scary things in the woods on your way to seeing light at the end of the tunnel". Tonight was one of those scary things that just jumps out at you completely unexpected but is very serious and very dangerous. So, as positive as his progress sounds - and it IS great progress - please remember he's not out of danger yet. He still needs all the prayers he can get.
2 comments:
Hey there Taylor & Family: We are definately still praying for you to get better soon. Have faith that the lord will continue to bring you through all your hurdles. Love MK
Ten steps forward and a small step back, pretty good progress all in all, I'd say. Besides, he always was a big puker since his diaper days!!! Glad he's okay and the expert staff around him are seasoned enough to jump into action like they're on auto pilot. We are all thinking of him everyday and trusting he will get through all this like a champ. No matter how long it takes, he has all his loves ones waiting at the finish line, cheering him on. The world just wouldn't turn right without Taylor on board.
Love, Lynne
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