Next Step is a "Doosie"

The doctors met this morning and they are of the consensus that in order to get Tammy on the list, she has to be off the ventilator and she needs to be stronger. To get her off the vent, they would need to bring her out from under sedation, but as soon as she feels the sensation in her throat, she starts fighting the tubes. This causes her oxygen to drop, so they have to turn both the vent and the sedation back up. So, the doctors had to come up with another option. The next step they recommend is a tracheotomy.

Earlier I had told some of you that a trache could prevent her from getting back on the list, however, that is not the case. And, though I know Tammy would not want to have a tracheotomy forever, the doctors have assured me that if she does well, the trache can be allowed to close up. This is far from our favorite choice, but the docs believe this is her best bet to be able to get mobile and get stronger.

Here are the reasons the doctors have chosen this option. 1. She will not have the tubes in the throat any longer, so when they try to ween her off she will not have the choking sensations. 2. If she has problems and they have to put her back on the vent, all they have to do is hook the vent machine up to the trache instead of having to put a tube back in her throat. 3. It will be possible, if she needs extra assistance after working hard and she needs some help, they will be able to put her on the vent at night so she can rest. 4. It is the best chance she has to be able to get mobile and get the breathing assistance that she needs. 5. It will allow them to attempt to get her breathing on her own much sooner.

The doctors want to perform the procedure during the early part of next week. Since this is a big step, we want to illicit as many prayers as we can. We know that God has brought you back to this site again and again, not just because Tammy is special to you, but so that you would know how to pray. We have learned to pray for the specifics and God has answered over and over. So, since there have been numbers to aim for, here are two more. Pray for her volume in her lungs to increase, she is currently at 320 ml, which is a small amount. Pray for her pressure in her lungs to drop. She is hanging out at 43-47. 50 sets off alarms. I don't know what is normal for either of these things, but they are tangible numbers that we can see.

Also, check back tomorrow. We are wanting to coordinate a specific time for all of us to be praying at the same time, together, on her behalf. We will have more info on our plans for this tomorrow. Until then, pray for God to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we can ask or imagine, and be confident you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.