Day 8

Joel made some progress today! He's back on the regular oxygen mask and the foley is out. He's still receiving chest-pounding vest treatments, pulmicort breathing treatments, Lasix diuretic and Ativan for anxiety. He's still spiking temps of nearly 102 and coughing a lot. They'd hoped to get him up in the chair but he wasn't able to yet; he's weak, the bed is too high even at the lowest setting, and their step stools are too low. He needs to be lifted up over and over to stay up in the bed at the right incline, which is exhausting. But I'm so happy he's making some progress and I'm cherishing moments with my little boy. He just asked himself quietly, after coughing, "Joel, you okay?" ..."Yeah," he answered pitifully.
The surgeon said this morning that Joel will be here another week.
Still praying.