Update July 15th

Things are steady and Jimm remains groggy, but is awake from time to time. He is not yet able to communicate except to answer yes or no. He may be able to write sometime soon, but his right index finger is home to a pulse oximeter which may get in the way. I'm sure the hospital staff will have some ideas when he gets to that point.

IV's continue.. currently supplying insulin, pain medication(Fentanyl), and feeding(TPN). No constant dialysis or tissue fluid removal is needed, so the 24 hour machine(that returned for a while after last weekend's onset of infection)is gone again. Breathing assist is minimal and features 40% oxygen.. common for trach patients. The fistula mentioned earlier has been stitched over and happily not resulted in the need for an ostomy. The current need is to relieve the pressure of built up fluid against the lungs with a drain, which is to be put in sometime today. Technically, this is a pleural effusion treated by thoracentesis.

Because Jimm is more aware than ever of what's going on, and is not particularly happy about it, a new set of needs has arisen to keep him calm and to try to keep his spirits up. The answer for this is complex and depends on a delicate balance of visits by family members and medication. Jimm is still not ready for open visitation.. in fact, that may have to wait until he is moved off this surgical ICU floor. I promise.. you guys will be the first to know when this happens.

aw