Bubsy's Rough Night

We had a tough night here at Children's Memorial. Bubs' oxygen levels kept dropping below acceptable levels. He's been on supplemental oxygen since yesterday evening and that didn't seem to help. After an early morning chest x-ray his doctors discovered that part of his right lung is collapsed - a not uncommon result of being intubated.

As we're learning, a lung collapse is serioius, but not emergent. The collapse keeps him from taking big breaths and thus compromises his oxygen levels. The treatment is some therapy - pounding a disc on the colllapsed area of his lungs in order to open up the air sacs, and lots and lots of oxygen help.

Right now, Bobby's on a special oxygen machine that's one step away from a breathing tube. He hasn't eaten yet and won't eat until he's started breathing on his own - certainly not today but maybe tomorrow. He's on a combination of morphine and ativan to help keep him comfortable. One side effect of all the oxygen is that he has swallowed a bunch of air - his stomach is rock hard from his inflated intestines. When he's awake, he's in extreme pain from trying to pass the gas.

But he's hanging in, as is Bobby's way. The nursing care here is great - so far he's had his own nurse for the entire stay. There are intensive care doctors, respiratory therapists, nurse practioners, cardiologists and surgeons following his case. He's needed the attention.

We're still unraveling the differing doctor's opinions. It seems the different parties are settling on a 3 month timetable for surgery, but that, of course, can always change. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it changed by the time I write the next update.