My SIL needs your thoughts and prayers - CoBuHe

Barb - I'm sorry that your SIL is going thru such a difficult time but the latest news sounds more positive. I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

Barb, I'm late seeing this thread, but I'm sending good vibes to your SIL, as well as to everyone in your family.  What a gift you're giving her by sitting with her and telling her such supportive words.  Maybe if you continue to perceive that reading isn't what she wants, you could instead play some of her favorite music while you sit quietly with her?  I'm sure just your presence is comforting, even if she's not quite receptive to some reading right now.

I hope the doctors continue to give you encouraging news.  I'll keep all of you in my thoughts.

Yesterday, I was so busy with Heidi and her wounds, I didn't get a chance to update you.  I spent a little bit of time with Chyrel yesterday and for the most part she was awake.  They are trying to keep her semi-sedated...so they want her awake.  I could read her eyes and she was saying she is miserable.  She is calm and relaxed, but when she is awake she can't help but to be miserable with that breathing tube and feeding tube inside.  AND, they have her hands tied down so she can't inadvertantly rip everything out.  Poor thing.

I was able to talk to her and tell her that she is doing really well; and that the doctors are optimistic; and that her job right now is to do nothing but relax.  She didn't respond...all she did was look at me with tears in her eyes.  However, when I asked her if she loved me....she nodded her head.  So heartbreaking to see her like this.

Thanks everyone for keeping her in your thoughts.

Oh man, that's so hard to imagine and must've been heartbreaking to see. I'm so sorry for her and all of you. I hope this treatment will help her and soon.

My BFF was diagnosed with emphysema a few years ago and has yet to quit smoking. I think she wants to but not bad enough. I also think that she, like so many others, think they've got time. I hope she's right because it will tear my heart out to see her suffer.

I have so many emotions about the fact that she continues to smoke while living with COPD.  I simply don't understand it, not being a smoker myself.

Rick told me that this morning they attempted the weaning process (off the breathing machine).  Her lungs worked on their own for 45 minutes, then her other organs started getting stressed...so they stopped.  They will try again in the morning.

CoBuHe

I have so many emotions about the fact that she continues to smoke while living with COPD.  I simply don't understand it, not being a smoker myself.

As an ex smoker, I probably empathize a little more with smokers but because I quit, I know it's possible. It's not easy but there are sooooo many tools to help now and I get upset when someone like my friend doesn't at least make a valiant effort. I love her and want her around for a long time but more than that, I dread the idea of her suffering. I remind her that there are worse things than dying and what your SIL is going thru is exactly what I'm talking about.

I hope they can manage to wean your SIL of the breathing machine in the next few days and she can rebound from this.

{{Hugs}}

(((BARB))) 

The doctors attempted the weaning process off the breathing machine again this morning.  It didn't work.  Her vitals went sky high and they feared a stroke.  Ugh.  Praying for strength.  God, what happens if they can't take her off the breathing machine and she is lucid.  So scary.

We will just have to help you pray for strength.  Strength for you to be able to help her and strength for her to be able to breath without the machine. 

CoBuHe

God, what happens if they can't take her off the breathing machine and she is lucid.  So scary.

I'm so sorry but I don't know what happens. Continued prayers for her and for the rest of you. (((HUGS)))

 Barb; I'm so sorry your family is going through this. Sending prayers that she will be able to breathe on her own. (((hugs)))

((Barb)) You & all that love your SIL are in my heart & prayers.

Thank you everyone.  No luck on today's weaning attempt.  But, they continue to say that success will be made.  I don't know now if they are saying this as fact or simply hope.  They had to give her blood today, because she was "bleeding out"  She had been in Heparin, the blood thinner.  They've taken her off that now. 

Reality is that if they can't wean her off the breathing machine, they will have to put in a trach (sp?) and assist her lungs that way to breathe.  IF they are able to take her off and her lungs do their job...it seems it would only be a matter of time before she is back in.

The other piece of this whole thing (before this current event) is that in a moment of fright in not being able to breathe, she took herself off of the DNR.  So, now she finds herself in this predicament and also means her kids will have the burden of making final decisions. 

CoBuHe

No luck on today's weaning attempt.  But, they continue to say that success will be made.  I don't know now if they are saying this as fact or simply hope. 

   Is she showing any progress at all? I know that sometimes the weaning is a very gradual process, with the patient breathing on their own a little more each time until they don't need the machine anymore. 

CoBuHe

she took herself off of the DNR.  So, now she finds herself in this predicament and also means her kids will have the burden of making final decisions

  I'll pray for strength for her children if that time comes.