Sprinting

Ash has been sprinting on the vent through the night. That basically means that they turn the settings on the vent so that she is required to do all of the work herself. She made it through the first hour with beautiful blood gases. Her respirations were in 50-60 range which made the nurses nervous and cause them to turn the machine back on. Ashley's normal respiration range is 50-60. I tried to share that with them because I've been doing this a long time with Ash and I know her very well. She has always had a hight respiration rate. 50-60 is something we don't even get concerned about because that is her normal.

At midnight I was told they were doing another sprint. They gave me a good report on her blood gases, and then at 4am I was told they would do another one and check her blood gases at 6. This morning I was told they didn't allow her to sprint those two times. Why? No answer. It just wasn't done. I am a little confused and frustrated. The doctor wanted those sprints to prove that she could breathe on her own in order to remove the breathing tube this morning. All of that has been canceled and I am not happy about making Ashley Kate awake and alert all day yesterday and now all day today for nothing. If we have no plans of removing the tube and allowing her to breathe on her own then I would like for her to be comfortable. I guess thats just the mom in me.

Ashley has been on a ventilator many, many times in her life and has never been made to do sprints. She has met all of the required setting on her vent and looks good. I'm not sure why they are doing things different this time. I don't want her to fail extubation, but I really do believe she is ready. If she's not then lets turn her drips back up and make her comfortable.

I have positioned her in the bed so that she can watch Blue this morning. She hasn't seen it on over 10 days and although she can't smile I think she is enjoying it. She continues to shake her head "no,no" and to cry big tears every time someone approaches her. Being suctioned down her breathing tube is the worst. Now that she is awake she can feel it every time it passes down her throat and it hurts. She is coughing more and more against the tube and this causes her to be suctioned more and more. I just want this part of her recovery over with.

Please pray with me about getting Ash off of the vent. She would be much more comfortable without it down her throat. It is a huge hurdle for her to cross over, but I was a sprinter and a hurdler so I believe she can do this! To tell you the truth she is a lot more determined than I ever was so I know she can do this!