Potholes

Ryan and I are both disappointed and frustrated with the way things are currently going. This morning when I got here, Ryan's oxygen was up to 60% (his PEEP is still 8.0). It feels like we are going in reverse and that is a hard position to be in. The doctors are encouraging and they tell us not to be disappointed and that these are only small bumps -- to us they are the type of pothole that will swallow your car whole.

They are starting Ryan on a new medicine to fight fungus in the lung. There is no actual evidence of a fungus growing, but they want to cover all of their bases. They are also increasing the level of steroid that he is on, going from 5 ml to 60 ml. The steroids had a huge impact when things were really bad, so we are hoping for good results again. The medicine that they started on Sunday for the C-DIF does seem to be working so that is good.

Ryan has not been off the ventilator at all since Thursday or Friday of last week. When he does go back to trach masking, Dr. Ojo wants him to only go on for 2 hour stretches at a time with at least an hour off in between. Her goal would be that he could do a total of 8 hours in a day, but he will have to build up to that. He has walked each of the past 3 days, but only 1 to 2 laps each day (roughly 140 ft./lap). Both Dr. Ojo and Dr. Sisson have told Ryan to just keep moving but not to overdo it.

Please continue to keep Ryan and I in your prayers. Please pray specifically that the new meds have the desired affect and that Ryan can feel the improvement soon! Please pray that we are both able to keep our spirits up right now. Please also pray for Lily and Wyatt; my parents are taking a short, but much needed, vacation. Lily and Wyatt are staying with friends, so please pray that that goes well....Thanks, Kelly, Scott, Megan and Cody!