Day 9 Evening Update

Whew...sorry this is so late but we just got home from seeing Booger. I've got quite a list for you tonight. Here we go.

Good News

• His ICP has been low pretty much all day. Fluctuating between 5 and 8 mostly.
• His LP (lumbar puncture) results show NO MRSA or Staph!!! This is very good news for him. (Disclaimer: They have him on antibiotics and wanted to let us know that there is still a possibility and they will know for sure in a week or so....but, I kind of think they just want to tell us that just in case there's the very small chance he does have it. It's pretty important to not let us get our hopes up over anything....more of a hospital liability thing going on here.)
• He didn't have as many vasospasms today. They've been keeping his BP higher on purpose to help with the vasospasms and it's working. Basically, think of his blood vessels as a garden hose. Think about what happens when that garden hose has a kink in it or has something sitting on it, the water doesn't flow as easily. So, if they increase his blood pressure, it increase the blood flow to his brain and helps the vasospasms from happening.
• The doctors started alternating his Tylenol with Motrin. This was something they hesitated about because ibuprofen is not healthy for his kidneys...but his temperature really needed to go down. They took off his cooling devices since they were giving him the chills. When we left his temperature was at a normal level (maybe slightly high...but good). If his temperature stays down, he will heal much faster.
• His chest x-ray looked better. Still has pneumonia and they are treating that...but it is improving.

News we'd like to not hear as much

• He is still very sick. :(
• They most likely will not be able put his bone flap back on. Yes, you read that correctly. That means we're probably looking at a metal plate and he's going to beep like crazy at the airport now. Since they did find something on his flap (Ahem....MRSA), they can't put that back on. Can't risk that. We're obviously just finding this info out...so there will be more details later.
• The ventilator is becoming more of an issue now. They are not designed to be in this long and so we may be looking at a tracheotomy being placed next week. Again, I am just trying to give you as much info as I can and don't have all the details yet.

Overall, today was a better day. We're more positive after seeing him and talking to his nurses today. The goal for the weekend is pretty much the same... keep him calm so he can heal. I asked the nurse if any tests were planned for tomorrow and she didn't think any except the ultrasound to detect any vasospasms.

~Betsy