Hospital Updates - May 2007
May 30, 2007 - Debby has been off the ventilator since Saturday morning.....
And today - - for the first time in 2 months - - - she ate something - - some applesauce....
More good news - - Debby has not been able to speak since she's been in the hospital - so to understand her - you have to read her lips. We were told her vocal chords were paralyzed, but today, the speech therapist said the vocal chords are only weak - and not paralyzed........ Three praises and answers to prayers!
May 27-28, 2007 - Debby received "Indy 500" visitors from Illinois and Florida today - - - from Illinois, her brother Danny and his wife Janet, and from Florida - - our cousins the Langsenkamps!! Kurt, his daughter Emily; Uncle Hank; Stevie and his daughters Laura and Amy....... What a blessing to have the "Langs" as family and that they would take time from their busy schedule to visit!
Debby's been off the ventilator 2 days -- which tires her out and affects her mood........... She is making excellent progress - - -but she needs to be convinced of this - - - and it's hard for Debby to see this in a depressed state:
Reminds me of this Scripture - Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
May 24, 2007 - The goal for Debby is to wean her off the ventilator, which basically performs the function of breathing for her. The longer she can stay off the ventilator, the more her own body is required to perform the breathing function. However, there are other factors affecting her body strength -- - for Debby, it's anxiety and depression. For anxiety, Debby is being prescribed Ativan and for the depression, she's receiving Cymbalata. Both of these drugs are negatively affecting her body's ability to wean off the ventilator.
Ativan causes drowsiness in up to 75% of the people taking it. Side effects may include fatigue, memory impairment, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and blurred vision. For Debby, the more Ativan, the more she sleeps deeply - - requiring the ventilator - - - The more she requires the ventilator, the less her body is being pushed to breath on its own.......At this point, doctors have determined that she will receive Ativan 3 times a day at a set time each day, and no more than that.......
Cymbalta offers relief from both the emotional and painful physical symptoms associated with depression.
So - - the doctors are determining the best approach for all the medications - - - as well as physical, speech, and spiritual therapy. With all these approaches, Debby is showing improvement - - however, she's seriously depressed and is need of convincing she's improving daily.
May 22, 2007 - Each of the past few days, Debby has been transferred to her wheelchair and taken outside to enjoy the sunshine....... On the latest day, she spent 45 minutes outside! This is tremendous progress and, yet, Debby's depression continues.....
May 11, 2007 - Debby was moved from Community North Hospital to Seton Specialty Hospital! ...... Seton opened on May 8, 2007............. Seton Specialty Hospital is a long-term acute care hospital ministry with the following Mission Statement:
- Rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, we commit ourselves to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Our Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually centered, holistic care, which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. We are advocates for a compassionate and just society through our actions and our words.
. What a provision from God ! The facility is wonderful as are the nurses and workers.........We are hopeful the therapy prescribed will eventually result in Debby not requiring a ventilator in the near future........ Pray for God's will for Debby and for peace, patience and relief from the depression........
May 2, 2007 - Debby was put on a "trach" ventilator -- Seetracheotomy "trach" tube for a definition of the purpose of this tube.....The Doctor warned the family that Debby may not be strong enough to come out of the anasthesia necessary to install the trach tube and he further warned that she may never come off the trach tube.......This was a very nervous day for the Doyle family......but Debby came through the procedure - - - with yet another tube in her body ! She did much better than the doctor's predicted and we praise God for yet another provision!