Prayers Desperately Needed!

Thanks Cathy, Callie and Paige... and anyone else who might be reading this.  Cathy, what you said when your dad was sick... that's how we feel.  Can someone please get SOMETHING together and get this woman better? 
 
The tracheotomy was done on Wednesday evening -- it went very well!  Although she's not completely off the respirator yet, she's making improvements.  Mamaw is able to mouth words to us now... one of the first things she said was "I can't wait to go home, I'm hungry" []  That's a good sign!
 
I think coming off the respirator is the toughest thing... maybe not just physically tough but mentally too.  Mom says she still freaks out when they turn off the machine.  They're meeting with the doctor today for more updates.  On most visiting sessions, they say she's moving around a bit or asking to sit up more.  I'll take any teenie tiny improvement! 
 
Thank you so very much for continuing to pray... I hope to update with more positive info.

Whew - I'm glad that things are improving, even if it's just a tiny bit.  I agree that her wanting go home and being hungry are positive signs.  I know that weaning them off the respirator is always tricky, and I'm sure the anxiety it causes in the patient makes it more complicated.  I do hope she continues to make progress and can go home and have her favorite foods real soon []

It's good to hear some positive news, a small improvement is certainly better than no improvement. I'll continue to pray for her and hope for another positive update soon.

I've been wondering how your Mamaw is doing. I agree with jessies mom that small improvements are better than none! Continuing with the positive thoughts from this end!

Missy, I'm glad you're seeing small signs of improvements in Mamaw's condition.  Each of those bits of hope can bring strength to all of you, and to her.  The inability to speak would be so frustrating.  We had a dear friend in ICU for a long time, and when she was taken off a respirator (with a trach), she could only mouth words, too.  She'd get so frustrated when we couldn't read her lips -- we'd all kind of laugh (even she'd give an annoyed smile), like playing charades -- she'd exaggerate her lip movements with as much force & shape as possible, and we'd be guessing all these words.  She was too weak to write, so that wasn't much help.  Sometimes we'd say, "How about if we just tell you about our day, and you don't have to say anything while we ramble on?"  We tried to ask her yes or no questions so she could nod or shake her head.  She just loved having visitors to brighten her long days, even if she was just listening. 
 
I hope the news continues to be good each day.

GOOD NEWS!  Mamaw is OFF THE RESPIRATOR!!  [sm=dance.gif]
 
The trach worked wonders for her... and the people working with her were hiding the fact that they were sometimes turning the respirator off to test her.  Hiding it because she would totally freak out thinking she couldn't breathe on her own when she actually could!
 
Tracy, Mamaw was frustrated just like your friend was... she'd mouth words and when nobody could guess what she was trying to say, she'd give a hand flip like nevermind and make such a funny face.  She now has a voice enhancer and I got to hear her sweet voice over the weekend!  Mamaw is lanning what she is going to eat once she gets out AND her doctor gave a time frame for coming home... which is this weekend!  She definitely wants to get out of there. 
 
I told her there were a lot of people praying for her... She said to tell all of you "Thank You and keep on praying".  Prayer is very powerful!  She's living proof!!!
 
Thank you all so much to those who have read these prayer requests, given good thoughts and prayed!!