Page 67 - Journey of Hope by Raymond Moldenhauer

DAY119

STILL FEISTY

Yesterday was a very long day for Jim and Heidi. They didn’t
leave the NICU until almost midnight. Alyssa was wide-awake
and not liking the HFOV tube at all! She didn’t have a look of
pain, nor was she crying. But she was determined to extubate
herself. The only way to calm her down was to place one hand
on her head and one hand on her hand closest to the tube. And
that is what Jim and Heidi did until Alyssa finally went to sleep
and they could return to the Ronald McDonald House to get
some needed rest. About 30 minutes later, the nurse called
them at their room to tell them that Alyssa pulled out the tube
and that they had to re-intubate her! They also increased the
HFOV frequency to 600 breaths per minute! NOT A GOOD
MORNING.

I arrived at the NICU around 9:30 AM, just in time to hear the
Neonatologist’s discussion with Jim and Heidi. He was telling
them that he was going to send a vile of Alyssa’s blood for a test
to determine if her remaining adrenal gland was functioning
adequately to compensate for the intense trauma that her body
was now going through. If not, then he may have to give her a
type of steroid to give her body a boost to deal with the stress.
Dr. Antune is also considering giving her another blood
transfusion tonight.

I usually set up the following day’s e-mail format ahead of time.
For today, I typed the headline: “TURNAROUND”. I was praying
that I would truly see it and be able to use it for today. But, even
though we are not at a point that I could really use those words, I As you place your left hand over her head and stroked her temple with your
did witness some improvements in her condition during the day thumb, she would hold on to your little finger with her right hand. Alyssa’s
that I spent with Heidi, Jim, and Alyssa. And I was amazed at just eyes would look about and occasionally she would smile. And if she closed
how “FIESTY” she still is! her eyes for a moment and you moved, one eye would open to see if you
were still there. That was the routine, and we all enjoyed it.