Stable today...

Mom was not much better, but not much worse today...I will take all I can get. She did get several hours of eyes closed, mouth open, snoring sleep today though...Finally. That has got to help her body. They also are futzing (I know...Nice medical term...) with her antibiotics. They took a chest x-ray and her lungs looked a little more "wet" (the Dr.'s word, not mine), which could indicate pneumonia. So they are trying to fight that off by keeping her on oxygen, encouraging her to cough and antibiotics.

They also gave her a pint of blood (packed red cells) today to help her body to get stronger. They also removed her CV line they put in during the surgery (the one in her neck where they can draw blood and deliver meds) and put in a PIC line (a more permanent intravenous line that can stay in for several weeks).

Her vitals were more stable today, and they continued to test all of her fluids on a pretty regular basis.

She is growing more frustrated and depressed, so I just keep telling her how strong she is and to keep fighting...Sometimes she's with me and sometimes she isn't. I just keep on pushing her to be positive and to keep being strong.

Also talked to a radiologist today about the issue she is having with the fluid in the chest tube. She has what is called a chylothorax, where one of the lymph ducts has a tear in it...In this case, the thoracic duct. As I said, the treatment now is to feed her intravenously to give the duct a chance to heal. The radiologist said it is about a 50/50 chance it will heal on it's own. The ICU doctor said he would wait 7 days and try some different nutrition to see if there was any progress. The radiologist told us of some other options to repair this if it does not heal on it's own...None of them have a great success rate because the little tube or duct we are talking about is so tiny...Less than 1 millimeter in some cases. So, the doctor told us of a couple options that we may have to look at if she gets better from everything else, and the lymph duct continues to be a problem...But that is at least a week away. So, for now, I am just hoping that a little luck...Ok, a lot of luck swings our way and she continues to improve, AND the lymph duct heals on it's own.

I saw Dad for awhile, but he was pretty sleepy. So, I sat with him, and read my book for about an hour, kissed him goodnight and went back to see Mom. She said she was tired, so I left in hopes she would get more sleep...And I could get some shut eye myself.

So, onward we push...Day by day, moment by moment...Hoping, praying and being thankful (me), and healing (Mom).

Much love.