Day + 333

Dianna had a good week, except for issues from withdraw...
The doctors are weaning Dianna off the pain/sedation medications,
but she is having withdraw from being on so much medication for so long. :-(
The doctors have given her methadone to help,
but she is still having shakes, fever, upset stomach (poor baby!)
It looks like Dianna is getting close to a removal of the ventilator tube.
(It may be not work, but I hope that the doctors will at least let her try to breathe on her own.)
Thanks again for ALL the prayers!!!

Day + 326

Wednesday--
The "new" dialysis site (fistula) works great! :-)
Thursday--
Dianna did have an infection in the "old" dialysis line.
(That IS what was causing the fever.) :-(
Friday--
Dianna had dialysis in the morning, then...
Another SURGERY to insert a "pick line" into her right arm.
After she was back into her room and the nurses made sure the pick line worked...
they removed the old dialysis line and the art line.
Due to the infection the doctors had to increase the rates on Dianna's ventilator. :-(
(Yes-- Dianna is still on the ventilator.)
This weekend they're working on weaning her back down to a lower setting.
Please pray for no more infections and getting off the ventilator.
Thank you for ALL the prayers!!!

Day + 322

Tuesday:
The doctors took Dianna off the CVVH (dialysis machine)...
they want to try her new graft on the "regular" dialysis machine on Wednesday.
If the new graft works...
they will take out the old "temporary line" which is good
(one less area for infections).
ALSO--
Dianna is NOW on such a low setting on the ventilator...
the doctors are going to try to take her off the vent in the next day or two! :-)
Dianna did have a little fever today...
please pray that she does not have an infection.

Day + 319

Dianna is the "Come Back Kid"- AGAIN! :-)
She is amazing the doctors again...
This morning the nurse was able to turn OFF the last of the blood pressure medications!
She had been on three different medications at one time just to keep her pressures up.
The ICU doctor said-- "I wish that I could say it was something that I did."
**But we know that it was something God did!**
(and maybe a little of Dianna's stubbornness-- "I'll show you!") :-)
She is still off the oscillator, but not off the ventilator.
THANK YOU for all the prayers!!!!!
Please keep praying that Dianna continues to improve and that she does NOT get an infection.
(Dianna's body is so weak at this time, but she is still fighting.)

Day + 316

Today was NOT a good day...
We had a "Care Conference" with Dianna's doctors-
to see if all the doctors are on the same page with Dianna's care.
The three doctors that were in the room all said that they felt that there is nothing more they know to do to help Dianna.
She is not getting any better-
her blood pressure is unstable even with high doses of blood pressure medications
and they have not been able to take off enough fluid with the dialysis machine.
Each day she ends up being positive fluid for the day.
The doctors feel that her veins may be leaking fluid into her body tissue. ???
She does not have an infection, but she is not getting better.
Her hematologist said that the bone marrow transplant was successful,
but that she still needs transfusions due to being so sick from the kidney failure.
I think that Dianna is getting tired of hurting and fighting.
Her body is very weak, but she is still fighting.
*I do not want her to suffer!*
*God, please take care of my baby!*

Day + 312

Good News! :-)
Dianna is OFF the oscillator and back on the ventilator...
doctors are still running blood gases to be sure the her oxygen & CO2 stay at good levels.
She is still having issues with her blood pressure, but I hope that gets better soon.
*Dianna (& Mom) need MORE GOOD DAYS!* :-)

Day + 308

Dianna had a better day today. :-)
Dianna's blood pressure was better and the nurses were able to reduce some of the blood pressure meds.
She did have an issue with pain late afternoon, but we found that it was from an IV site.
The nurse switched the iv medication to another location and so far Dianna seems to be feeling better.
PRAY for more good days! :-)

Day + 307

Today did not go to well...
The doctor tried to switch Dianna from the oscillator back to the ventilator-
But, she could not take deep/large enough breathes to get the oxygen she needed on the regular vent.
(Her chest was too stiff--??-- Now WHAT??)
Also, as the RT was about to try to switch Dianna- she unplugged the wrong machine!
She unplugged the CVVH (dialysis) machine! :-(
And the Oscillator!
Which caused Dianna's blood pressure to drop...
This was very scary.
SO-- Dianna is STILL on the oscillator. :-(
Still on several IV med's to keep her blood pressure up. :-(

Day + 305

Dianna had a better day today.
Thank you for all the prayers!
Dianna had her eyes open most of the day. :-)
She still can not talk or move her body due to the oscillator,
but she was trying.
(She is such a fighter!)
I am praying that she continues to improve and
will be able to switch back to the regular ventilator soon.
Also- that Dianna does not get another infection...
this would be very bad as weak as she is now.