Evie Post-Op Update #2

It's Sharon again... Yesterday I visited Evie and the good news is that her chest tube was removed, as well as the catheter for her bladder. The BEST news was that I got to hold her finally, since the chest tube was out. She was her usual self - fussing because she was hungry.

More good news is that she is being given formula through the tube in her nose (NG -nasogastric tube) and the nurses have increased the amount she is getting to about half an ounce per hour. This will help her tummy feel full - which it didn't when she was only on IV fluids. So in turn she will be less fussy!

She will still be in intensive care for a few more days, and then she will move to the regular pediatric floor for a few more days. So it looks like she will be home some time next week. The doctors are taking things very slowly with her, since her breathing is slowly getting better.

Part of the reason why she was working so hard to breathe was that both lungs SLIGHTLY collapsed during the surgery. Her nurse told me that it is not uncommon for that to happen, as well as developing fluid in the lungs (which she also had). Both issues are getting better on their own and she will not have to have additional procedures to correct them.

The staff is now weaning her down on the oxygen, as well as the strong sedatives (Versed) and narcotic painkillers (Fentanyl). Last night they gave her Tylenol and a milder sedative and checking how well she does on these. She is still on the stronger meds in these pictures though.