Oct
03
    
Posted (Tina) in All Posts on October-3-2007

Ella had a touchy afternoon with Nurse Angie. Even though they gave her a large dose of fentanyl at 3:30pm when they turned her on her back, she still fussed quite a bit for the remainder of the afternoon.

She started to calm down around 6pm and fell asleep. When we arrived around 9:30pm, she was still on her back and wide awake. She seemed comfortable and calm, just looking around.

Although her airway required suctioning a few times during our visit, she seemed to tolerate it fine and recovered quickly. Her vent is at 50% oxygen and 70 breaths per minute. Her saturations were 97-98% tonight. She had a blood gas at 10pm which was good, pH level=7.44, cO2=47, pO2=83.

Her chest fluid output was only 41 total for the day during our visit, so it has definitely slowed down. Although most of the fluid is still coming from the right chest tube (which is on the same side as her good lung), so I am sure that is helping Ella.

Her belly looked more distended tonight. Nurse Michelle measured her and she is up 1 centimeter today around her abdomen area. It is easy to tell because her repair scar is bright red and looks more stretched.

Also, her adema has gotten worse in her head and her trunk area too over the past couple of days. In the prior weeks, this was related to her SVC being collapsed. Although they took the contrast x-ray on Monday, we have not received any results.

Dr. Kays opted to remove the brain oximeter today. They were having some mechanical problems with it not reading properly. So, Nurse Michelle removed it again tonight. I am glad because Ella’s skin is so sensitive from the first time around where it was on for weeks, that Ella’s skin has already degenerated again (red and sore).

Finally, you may have noticed that her left eye has some blood capillaries that have burst. The theory is that the adema has caused the skin around her left eye to become red/purple. We are being told that it is not too much of a concern, but that they will watch it closely.

We have this gut feeling that Ella might be retaining fluid again in other pockets of her chest cavity. We will be interested to see how she does throughout the night on her belly, what her chest x-ray shows tomorrow and what next steps that Dr. Kays wants to take with her.

If she begins to not have as good of stats and begins to get fussy for Nurse Michelle, then she likely has more fluid accumulating somewhere. We know that scarring her chest is still a possibility that Dr. Kays is considering. Again, we would like to avoid that procedure but trust that God is in control and orchestrating every detail.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”



Angie on October 3rd, 2007 at 10:11 pm #

Aww, what a sweet picture of Ella looking at her Daddy! I’m glad she had a better evening! 🙂 Sweet dreams Ella. ~Nurse Angie

Eusey Family on October 3rd, 2007 at 10:13 pm #

What an awesome picture of Dad and Daughter. Priceless.

Sweet dreams sweet Ella. We are praying for answers, solutions and less fluid.

Lisa Weir on October 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 pm #

Those are beautiful eyes… What a little sweetpea!! It is a blessing to see Ella making those strides in her health despite the bumps here and there.

You remain in our daily prayers and close to our hearts. Despite the fact we haven’t met you, we feel such a great love for your family. I can’t help but share your story with my friends and family so that they can pray too and experience the tender mercy of God as he heals your daughter. Thank you for sharing your most precious gift with us. Your Ella has truly become “our” Ella. There is such a huge community of people who adore your family. You are truly blessed with such wonderful friends and family. Thank you so much for sharing your life with all of us!

A peaceful night’s rest to all of you 🙂

Gloria & Red Jacobsen on October 3rd, 2007 at 10:17 pm #

Great picture.She’s coming along,in God’s perfect timing! Prayers always for Ella and her Mom & Dad. Gloria & Red

Kendal Owens on October 3rd, 2007 at 11:23 pm #

We continue to pray here in PNG for sweet Ella. Last Sunday we sang a song in our worship time that made me think of the three of you. The words are:
In Your Hands

I’m so secure
You’re here with me
You stay the same
Your love remains, here in my heart

So close I believe
You’re holding me now
In your hands I belong
You’ll never let me go

You gave your life
In your endless love
You set me free
And showed me the way,
Now I am found

So close I believe
You’re holding me now
In your hands I belong
You’ll never let me go

All along you were beside me
Even when I couldn’t tell
Through the years
You showed me more of You
More of You.

So close I believe
You’re holding me now
In your hands I belong
You’ll never let me go

Joel Snyder on October 4th, 2007 at 12:10 am #

Ella, Nice to see you awake and making eyes with your Mom and Dad. I am working and praying that you have a good night. Let’s see if you can’t keep your stats on track and get comfortable for nurse Michelle. I will check on you in the morning. Love, Grandpa!!!!

Roxie Moore - Adrienne's friend on October 4th, 2007 at 2:29 am #

Love and encouragement from Father to child. Josh, you are encouraged by Ella looking up the same way our Father in Heaven is encouraged when we look up to Him. What a perfect picture of our relationship and dependence on our Father in Heaven. Ella is so beautiful!

Cliff, Diane and Sonic Blue on October 4th, 2007 at 4:05 am #

Wow, her eyes look really alert. I would love to know what she is thinking. Especially the photo of her looking at Dad (wise-cracks withheld).
Love to all 3 of you. I hope each day gets better and better.
Cliff

The Brittain Family on October 4th, 2007 at 5:27 am #

We keep kneeling before the Revealer of Mysteries. May He give Ella, today, exactly what she needs. Keep climbing! (The adorability factor certainly is!)

Joan Odell on October 4th, 2007 at 7:14 am #

ADORABLE – we are very thankful to see those eyes again – hang in there – the Lord does not abandon – our hugs and love steve and joan

Williamsburg on October 4th, 2007 at 7:24 am #

Oh precious girl…Daddy says you are totally comprehending Mom and Dad’s love, which is obvious from these pictures – what a blessing. We can’t wait for the days when you are also blown away in your understanding of the Father’s love for you, and how many lives you’ve touched for His sake so far. Father, praise you for the hearts of Ella’s precious parents who are blessing her more than she even knows with membership in the body of Christ. Help us be worthy of that awesome calling. Love you guys with all our hearts and so honored to be your family, too. XOXOXO

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