Jamie (Elizabeth’s husband) has been spending every day with Elizabeth in the ICU as she recovers from her surgery. Here is his update from today on her progress.
Elizabeth is waking up much more frequently. Very groggy but mostly alert and she is not a fan of the breathing tube at all. The big update from today is that Elizabeth was given what is called a SBT (Spontaneous Breathing Trial). That is where the ventilator is dialed back and Elizabeth breaths on her own. Elizabeth did that for 30 minutes. The breathing was great and just what you would expect out of new lungs! It was tough work and since they had backed off on the sedative she had to put up with increased discomfort. Once the test was finished they got her some pain meds and started the sedative back up again. This is why we are really wanting to get the epidural in.
Blood numbers are still not where they would like them to proceed with the epidural. They are pulling back on some meds and giving her vitamin K to hopefully aid in increasing her platelet numbers. The doctors are hoping that by tomorrow we can get her numbers to where they need them to be for placement.
I have been reading M.F.K. Fisher to Elizabeth all day and while I love the stories about amazing food, somehow it has made the hospital food taste even worse. I did not think that possible. Thank you all for your support and friendship. It is of great encouragement.
And that is the nightly update from SA5426 Montlake Tower. I will leave you with a reflection by David Whyte, one of our favorite poets. As you know, Elizabeth has a way of looking at things that very often challenges our typical approaches. In gently questioning our fears/joys/rhythms/beliefs moving the conversation towards a deeper compassion internally, and a fearless engagement externally. Even pain is not left untransformed by this beautiful approach to life.
“Pain is the doorway to the here and now. Physical or emotional pain is an ultimate form of ground, saying, to each, in effect,
there is no other place than this place,
no other body than this body,
no other limb
or joint
or pang
or sharpness
or heartbreak
but this searing presence.
Pain asks us to heal by focusing not only on the place the pain is felt but also the actual way the pain is felt. Pain is a form of alertness and particularity: pain is a way in.” – David Whyte from Consolations
