Slowly improving

We celebrate all improvements - as minor as they may seem, every one seems like a big step to us. Dorothea received another dialysis treatment this morning,and was awake during much of it. She had no bleeding overnight. They did not use the heparin with this dialysis treatment, so later today and tonight will be the true test to see if the bleeding has stopped.

They had planned to put her back on the ventilator last night while she slept, but she seemed to do better on the oxygen shield, so they put her back on the oxygen shield, and that is all she used overnight. That is really good news. She is preferring to do the work herself, so that is very positive. The infectious disease doctor came by and told Harold that her white blood cell count is good, and her fever has remained very low grade or none for days - so feel that the pneumonia is taken care of. As of this afternoon we are still required to wear gowns and gloves, but perhaps that precaution will be lifted soon.

Her kidneys put out 160 ml overnight - wow - that is quite a jump. Slowly but surely it seems as though her kidneys are "waking up."

She continues to be frstrated with all of us when we do not understand what she is saying - but perhaps that will just serve as motivation to strengthen her hands enough to write, and strengthen her lungs enough to get the trach tube out!