Bone scan done, more ventless moments

Tonight as I was driving to the hospital and listening to the radio, they played "Spirit of Radio" by Rush. I turned it up, rounded a curve on the 10 freeway, and the lights of downtown L.A. came into view. It's a beautiful sight (from a safe distance) on clear breezy nights like tonight. I got green lights all the way from the exit ramp to the hospital. Not having to stop in that neighborhood is a treat. Somehow the music made that rather icky drive nicer. As the song was ending, I was pulling into the parking structure, into the very first parking space. I was stoked.

And the good news continued during my visit...

She was off the ventilator twice earlier in the day (1/2 hour each time) and they took her off again just after I left tonight. Up until that time, she was on SIMV, 30% oxygen, PEEP 5, rate mid-20s. A speech therapist is due to visit Denise tomorrow. Read that again. Speech therapist! An evaluation will be done. I know that when the tracheostomy cuff has been deflated in the past, she speaks fine. She's even been able to muster up enough breath to force a syllable or two through, or pull the collar to one side and cheat a word through.

Heart rate was between 103-117, blood pressure 119-127, still off all heart & blood pressure meds. J-tube feeding has been held at 60cc/hr, going well.

Denise's bone scan was done today. The nurse said that there was some arthritis noted, but I'd have to talk to the doctor to find out specifically where. He told Denise's folks that they'll keep an eye on this in the future.

The spinal tap... uh... er... "lumbar puncture" (neither sounds nice) is on deck for tomorrow AM, blood thinner should be discontinued this evening. Let's hope that comes back all clear. One of my friends told me that as long as Denise is going to have a spinal tap, he hopes that she goes to 11. Any of you that understood that comment can come to my house when this mess is all over for a movie night.

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