Marla just called from Rob's room and said the doctor okayed the removal Rob's feeding tube. That was the tube going into his nose and down his throat to his stomach. He is so glad to have it out and we are thrilled for him. Can you imagine trying to swallow or enjoy food with a tube down your throat even if it's about 1/4" in diameter? He's had it in for the two weeks since the lung surgery when he requested to have it put into his nose instead of directly into his mouth which he had disliked even more from before. They fed him through the night again last night (through the tube) a high calorie liquid but now he's got to show them he can eat more himself otherwise the tube goes back in. Three times a day, starting yesterday, they bring him a chocolate milk shake for a snack to get more calories in. Now he can drink more and enjoy them too.
He was sitting up in the chair eating some breakfast when Marla called. He's also been going about 4 hours between pain medication. That is great because he needed it every two hours for quite some time. He says his left lung hurts a little less now. We are grateful for that.
The doctors today said they will take out the chest tube tomorrow. Please, please remember him in your prayers--he's had several serious complications with this procedure before. We are praying that the things they've done this time around to prepare for the chest tube removal will work perfectly. His last two lung x-rays have been good so that's very encouraging.
We are so thankful for each step he's making toward recovery. It's been such a long haul for him--Rob is so amazing to us. We know the Lord has been helping Rob (and all of us) to endure. We have so many things to be thankful for.
Diane spoke with a family again this a.m. whose dad (down the hall from Rob), a 77 year man, is having a lot of difficulties. When hurricane Rita was starting up last week, this man, John Norman Bell, was out helping his neighbor get his generator started since they had lost power in their neighborhood. John's neighbor's wife is on oxygen and needed the power on to help her breathe. While the men were attempting to get the generator working, a huge oak tree fell on John, breaking vertebrae in his neck and causing other broken bones, contusions and lung problems. Now he has a blood clot in his brain and they may have to operate. Diane asked if we could pray for him and his daughter said, "Yes, please do--that's all we have." John lost his wife just two months ago and the rest of the family all lost their homes from the hurricanes. You just wouldn't believe the suffering that so many people are going through down here from the storms. We felt strongly that we should pass this request on to you in behalf of John and his family. Denise
No comments:
Post a Comment