After Daniel had his surgery yesterday, a long long 10 hours. We finally got to see him in the ICU at 6:30PM. He was intubated, and since he had lost 9 pints of blood they were still giving him blood. He was very sedated most of the night and I was able to sleep for a little while.
Daniel woke up last night, to some degree, very very agitated and uncomfortable so they gave him some sedating medication.
So much equipment in one small room for my one guy.
Tuesday Morning, December 4, 2012. Daniel slept until about 6am when the orthopedic residents came in like a whirlwind turning on the bright lights wanting to look at the incision and talk to me. In a sleepy stupor I talked to them but can't even remember what I said. After that, someone else came in, then someone else, then I listened in as the 15 people stood in a circle with their rolling computers doing rounds.
At 10:00am they extubated Daniel. When the breathing tube came out, he started to develop more and more upper airway secretions and his oxygen saturation began dropping down into the 80's. The put oxygen on him via a canula and that seemed to help. He was showing signs of pain and discomfort. The nurse was trying to reach the pain team. Respiratory treatments were started and finally around 1 or 2 the pain medication arrived.
Lunch in cafeteria... another $20.00 bill. Sheesh. Physical therapy came in and started showing us how to transfer Daniel. He was put into a reclining wheelchair for an hour...although he still had not opened up his eyes.
Once put back into his bed, he was very very upset and uncomfortable... He had a visitor, Marques our nurse...who had also stopped by to see us yesterday while we waited during surgery.
I'm sitting in the dark in my son's ICU room feeling like things are surreal...but also feeling like so many people are sending love and prayers... you can feel it... I have two prayer shawls that have been my constant companions.
Daniel is now asleep, it is 8:15pm.. Our nurse today, Juliana, was a doll... such a nice girl. She made my day brighter with her smiles. I wonder if nurses realize how much they really do affect patients and their families.
So now I sit and wait and wonder. Will I sleep? Will I be woken repeatedly through the night as Daniel needs pain medications.
Just so you know, a Spinal fusion results in an incision from the neck to the butt. The spasms are incredible.. and the fact that my son is lying here after such an intense surgery blows my mind to pieces.
Well. I have my prayer shawls, my laptop, a book, some tic tacs, and at least one guardian angel in here with us I hope and pray. The journey continues...where will we stop tomorrow?
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