1/24 Intubation

Harold told me that Dorothea was breathing 35 - 40 shallow breaths a minute earlier today, and that is why they decided to intubate her. They will keep the intubation tube in for a few days, and she will remain sedated for the same time period. This will allow Dorothea to get a good deal of solid rest that she has not been able to get in over a week. This should be a great help in her healing process. It is hard to not be able to communicate with her, but it is comforting to know that she is resting well and peacefully. Her hemoglobin number was down, so they gave her 2 units of blood this afternoon. She received wonderful care from her nurse, Bonnie, today. It is amazing to me how much the nurses do, and how much they must know in order to take care of so many issues.