So we’ve been in the PICU since Friday (a full week). When we first checked in to the hospital on the oncology floor, we thought ‘what a depressing place.’ Now that we’ve been in the PICU for a week, the onc floor seems awesome. No one has hair, but the kids are all riding around on their IV poles and almost all of the parents want to talk about what they are going through. Down here in the ICU you see the flight for life team pushing stretchers down the hall, code blues and not that many smiles. You are, all at the same time fascinated by all the human drama going on around you, disgusted at yourself for being so nosy and unable to figure out which room currently needs the most prayers.
Tuesday has decided that she wants to hang onto all the fluids they’ve been pumping into her. She needs to release them so she won’t have so much pressure on her diaphragm and her diaphragm will push on her lungs. She was put on a ventilator on Monday am (after the longest night of my life). She has been a terrific fighter since she came into the hospital and even on the maximum dosages of three different narcotics would attempt to pull her breathing tube out. Everyone has commented on what a fighter she is and how great that is.
Jessica and I have been picking up lots of new medical terms and words, which we’ve been trying to use in our on-line games of scrabble, but we mostly end up spelling words like ‘he’ ‘they’ and ‘is.’
Here’s some fun facts I can tell you about Tuesday’s current vital signs:
Heart Rate: 137
CVP: 24 (but that’s not accurate and most of you don’t know what CVP is so it’s not really important)
SpO2: 96 This is important as Tuesday is a breath holder and likes to desat. This means she gets mad and holds her breath until the oxygen level in her blood is down to about 36%. This sets off lots of alarms.
BPM: 26 that’s how many Breaths Per Minute the ventilator is giving her
PEEP: 8 I don’t know what this is, but it was 9 and 8 is better than 9.
She has 8 pumps hooked up to her cute little self, but only 5 are running right now.
Children’s Hospital is a teaching hospital so her care team includes residents, fellows and attending doctors. Most of the docs will introduce themselves as just their first name, which I think portrays more confidence than the ones who introduce themselves as “Dr. Big Pants.” If the attending doctor can go by Emily, then so can the first year resident.
Okay, enough ramblings, after this one last thing. I’ve noticed, mostly among the fellows and residents, that there seems to be this unspoken contest of who has the most expensive eye glass frames. The more expensive they are, the less I want the wearer touching my daughter.
Its great to hear your point of view and hear a little humor as well. I can’t say there is a moment of the day that goes by that we don’t think about you. I am heading to my MIL church in the morning to get some extra prayers for you.
Thank you for inviting us into what you and Jessica are being faced with…..I can’t even imagine. Please know you are constantly in our thoughts and prayers. Much love and support to you and your family.
Charley,
Thank you so much for sharing your point of view as well.
Good to hear from you and also good to hear that both you & Jess are keeping your sense of spunk about you. (no wonder Tuesday is such a fighter!)
Keeping your whole family in my thoughts & prayers always.
Debi
Charlie, thank you for the post! You and Jessica, all the little kiddos and especially our little fighter, Tuesday are in my prayers! I forward on all the updates to those I know who are praying for you too here in Southern California!
Tamara (Multiple’s Group)
Thanks for updating as well and sharing your perspective. We will continue to send up prayers! Give your wonderful wife a huge hug from me!
Thank you, Charley. Beautifully written!
Great to hear from you, Charley. and I am SO glad to detect a bit of humor. Praying for all of you, and the Drs. Especically “Dr. Big Pants”
Thank you Charley for being the rock you are to our dear friend, JK. We’ve heard so many wonderful stories and now we get to read first hand the Whitt charm and sense of humor. We are praying for your little pea pod constantly. Can’t wait to meet her when she recovers and the family one day.
lisa
Charley thanks so much for giving the update and it was so great hearing your point of view. Love your sense of humor! Please know that I am thinking of you guys ALL the time and send up many many prayers for your little girl and the entire Whitt family.
Great to see a post from you, we all are just praying so hard for you all, and please know that you are in my heart all the time and that i´m parying everyday that my ANGEL FERNANDO will watch over Tuesday health and ask GOD to make her feel better soon.
Charley – you never cease to amaze me with your sense of humor. You are a rare gem my friend. I am sure your gift for seeing the funny at even the hardest of times gives all of you strength. Tuesday especially. As always my good karma, thoughts and prayers are all going your way.