A Soapy Ending to a Good Day

March 2, 2009

When the night patient care worker entered we knew she “owned” the room and this time in a good way. She asked Jon if he had had a bath today and when it took a few seconds for him to gather his thoughts she proceeded to make big circular motions across the top of her chest. I didn’t see him answer but she announced he was about to get one anyway. I hear that it was the soapiest bed bath Barb has ever seen. When finished she slathered him with lotion which Jon usually hates because he says it makes him feel like he’s still “wet” but he didn’t complain. When Barb reported to me that he had even had his hair washed and was shaved I set out to give the gal a big hug and was promptly “enveloped” and crushed …she’s a keeper!

The respiratory therapist was quite pleased with the stats the respirator had on Jon for the day. He was off the ventilator for around 17 hours and did very well. I was a little concerned when his heart rate dipped into the high 40s when napping but that’s a hole different system--I can’t seem to separate breathing and heart beating. To me you can’t do one without the other! At any rate, the therapist wanted to try using the ventilator mask today and possibly “hear some voice” which I am assuming means he’ll get to try using the passy muir valve. I also tried to get Jon to move his arm when he hears the beeping sound the alarm makes when his heart rate goes below 50 since that immediately sends his score on an upward trend.

He also is scheduled for a swallow test this afternoon which I hope doesn’t get postponed. A gentle reminder by the Director brought a surgeon to check the bedsore. He agreed it did need to be surgically debreed and scheduled him for 10 this morning. (The spelling isn’t correct but phonetically the term is correct…) He will also have the VAC on the bedsore which is what we’ve been wanting for over a week now!

So Jon is in for a big day today. Keep him in your prayers and hope all goes well.
Thanks loads,