We have received lots of news today. The doctors confirmed that Chris has H1N1, which they have been treating him for all along with Tamiflu. The Infectious Disease Specialist is trying to locate a new drug to treat H1N1 for additional help as Chris combats this horrible disease. The Pulmonologist said that Chris is over the worst activity of H1N1--whatever damage H1N1 could do has already been done, and he also said that he is treating the ventilator associate pneumonia and making progress with that.
Chris' oxygen is at 80% and he will remain on the ventialtor for a while. Because he will have to be on the ventilator for a while, Chris will have a tracheotomy done either this afternoon or tomorrow morning. After the tracheotomy is done, all of the ventilator tubes will come out of the trach instead of his mouth. As a result, they will be able to bring Chris out of sedation, he will be able to sit up, eat food instead of having a feeding tube in his stomach, and while he will not be able to talk, he will be able to write so he can communicate (he was trying to write on a clipboard before, but because of the sedation his writing was not legible). Chris was very uncomfortable and getting agitated with the ventilator tubes going through his mouth. This procedure will make him much more comfortable and is good news. Some of you may know that my dad had 2 tracheotomies done in the past. He said that while it sounds like a major procedure, it is not a complicated one and will help Chris. I find comfort in knowing that my dad will be able to coach Chris through having this trach because he has "been there and done that."
In addition, all of Chris' vitals remain good. They are also measuring his Peep breathing level. I don't understand what all it measures, but we want that number to eventually be 3-4. Right now, it is at 12.
Chris is still a very, very sick guy. We anticipate that he will experience ups and downs along this road and as I have said before, he is not out of the woods yet. Please pray for his body to heal, especially his lungs, and pray that the tracheotomy procedure goes well and that Chris will be more comfortable after it is done.
Please keep the faith and keep praying! We are so blessed to have friends and family like all of you.
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