ICU...The Next Hurdle!

Jessica Did Great!! 

 

     

     Dr. Ouellet spoke to us at approx 5pm. He was very happy with the way the surgery went. He was able to use the rods that slide in a track and do not need adjusting for growth every six months. This is very good news for Jessica as it means she does not need as many surgeries in the future. These rods are much more secure then the last ones and will help prevent the ongoing twisting of her spine which was successfully straightened out once again and let's hope it stays that way! Dr. Ouellet has decided that he will have Jessica casted in the next few days to create a soft brace which he wants worn for the next several weeks. He said that a couple screws at the bottom of her spine were loose and he hopes the brace will help set the new hardware in the healing bone. The brace is to be worn only when she is moving the most - while on the floor exercising and playing . Jess won't have to sleep or feed with it on.

We went into the ICU to see Jessica at around 6pm. She had already been extubated and was breathing on her own just fine. She was coming out of the anaesthesia but remained groggy due to the pain medication. As last surgery, there was a long bandage extending from the base of her neck to the top of her pelvis and lots of tubes and wires hooked up to her to monitor her recovery.







Jessica received some blood during the surgery this time due to the extensive work putting the new rods in.    This threw her blood chemistry off a bit and her red blood cells and platelets were low.  They are working on bring the levels back to normal.  She also had some blood in her urine which was causing some concern but luckily it cleared up in a couple hours.  Jess seemed to have a bit of problem with the morphine this time, she vomited a few times and required suction to clear her mouth and throat...this is not uncommon for such a strong medication.





The ICU is an amazing place with fantastic nurses working one on one with the patients.  Jessica had an outstanding nurse which had solutions for every hurdle Jessica threw at her.

As expected, Steph wouldn't leave the hospital and I peeled away around 10:30pm in hopes of getting the blog out before it got to late.

There is a good chance Jess will be moved to the ward tomorrow where she will remain until we are discharged.  Until tomorrow...