Wendy was given a 4 ounce glass of grape juice this afternoon that she conservatively sipped from 3:00 to 5:45 pm. Because she did such a great job drinking it and didn't feel nauseous she graduated from no diet to an all liquid diet! She thoroughly enjoyed broth and jello for dinner this evening.
A nurse from the Inter visual Radiology department came up to check on Wendy's PICC line today. The PICC line is looking good.
Wendy's white blood cell count is still elevated. The doctors are unable to find any signs of infection so they are discontinuing antibiotics.
Wendy walked well with the help of a walker again today. She only had to stop once to sit down. Her right leg is still numb. When Wendy was put on the heart and lung machine during surgery they had tried to access her femoral artery, without success. Wendy's surgeon suspects a nerve in/near the femoral artery was damaged. He doesn't expect the nerve to be permanently damaged. She will definitely need physical therapy to get her leg back to full use without numbness and it could take months of work to get there.
Wendy's family asked her surgeon when she would be released from the ICU. His response, "I won't let her leave here until she's ready and she's not ready."
It is imperative that Wendy get more, quality sleep. She was given a cup of warm tea and a sleeping pill tonight. They are hopeful that the tea will soothe her raw, painfully sore throat and the sleeping aid will help her rest. She is still in an extreme amount of pain from head to toe and is having a hard time sleeping. The longest period of sleep she got last night was 15 minutes.
The severe hot flashes are getting more peculiar, and are occurring for longer periods of time. This afternoon she had them at 3:10, 4:45, 6:20, and 8:03 pm. Each one lasted 45 minutes to an hour. She has little reprieve in between these episodes and they completely wear her out. The hot flashes have affected her entire body up until today. She only experienced the "on fire" sensation on her right side today, her incision side. Her surgeon, the doctors, and nurses are completely baffled and still can't explain the extreme heat. If the extreme hot flashes would stop she'd be more successful at everything. These episodes are exhausting her.
Pray...
- They figure out what is causing the extreme hot flashes and that they stop.
- Her right leg heals quickly and that the feeling comes back.
- Her extremely sore throat and thrush go away.
- Wendy sleeps!
- Wendy is enjoying a diet again!
- The PICC line is looking good and working well.
- Her support team is being protected with strength and health.
You are such a strong fighter Wendy...keep it up you are doing an awesome job!! Praises that you are able to have liquids!! I am praying that our loving God covers you and diminishes the hot flashes, for restful sleep and that the sore throat and thrush goes away immediately. So many people are thinking of you and praying for you and your family. I pray for continued strength to Michah and your parents and safety and happiness for your boys. You are much loved Wendy...keep on fighting!
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