[Dailydrool] Pat Update - Friday Afternoon

[Sandi Wittenberg]

First of all, thank you all for the many private emails of encouragement
sent to me, the cards sent to Pat and the massive out pouring of drool and
prayers on Pat's behalf.
As of this afternoon, the prognosis for Pat is poor.  She has Adult
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which basically means that her lungs
cannot function on their own.  Her lung xrays are almost solid white and
they are lavaging (washing) her lungs out with sterile saline and
"vacuuming" (sucking) out the infected secretions.  The good news (relative
and very small glimmer of hope) is that the antibiotics have begun to break
up the gunk in her lungs, the ventilator is only on 45% oxygen, and when
they gave her a sedation-vacation this morning, she opened her eyes for the
first time in two days.  They did a brain scan and everything seems normal
on that.  They have now added fentanol as a pain medication and lasix every
12 hours to reduce fluid retention.  
I am trying to prepare myself for the worst, while hoping and praying for
the best.
Sandi Wittenberg
Red Bay Bassets


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