Can you believe it? God is SO GOOD!

Ella’s blood gas at 8am was excellent: ph level=7.37, cO2=55, pO2=155. Also, her chest x-ray looked good. In the last 24 hours, her urine output was high at 373.

When I spoke to Nurse Angie, her saturations were 100/100 and she was sleeping soundly on her belly. I asked about the chest fluid output. Nurse Angie confirmed that there was only a trace since 7am. This was what we heard from the nurse last night too. That was a very good sign.

So this afternoon, the phone rang. It was Dr. Kays. He started off by telling us that he removed the chest tube on her left side! He confirmed that he thinks the fluid issue is resolved and she is chest tube free! Praise God!

The next step is to continue weening the antibiotics, octreotide, fentanyl, and versed meds over the next week. Also, to make steady progress by weening the ventilator. If Ella responds well, he said that she might move to CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) in the next 3-5 days!

When infants are disconnected from a mechanical ventilator, often they require a form of assisted breathing called nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A nasal CPAP device consists of a large tube with tiny prongs that fit into the baby’s nose, which is hooked to a machine that provides oxygenated air into the baby’s air passages and lungs. The pressure from the CPAP machine helps keep a baby’s lungs open so he or she can breathe. However, the machine does not provide breaths for the baby, so the baby breathes on his or her own. (www.kidshealth.com)

Dr. Kays let us know that they are moving Ella again to a different room in the NICU. There is another baby coming soon that might need ECMO, so they are moving Ella to make room for the new baby.

No chest tubes for Ella is another HUGE milestone. Thanks for your continued prayers and celebration with us on this day!

Yes, we will be asking tonight when we will be able to hold our baby girl…we’re so looking forward to it!