Dale update--plugging along on the vent

[Tami Schlabach]

Dad's still on the ventilator. It's been a waiting game all week and it still is, but it sounds like progress to me. 

They've reduced all meds until he's only on sedation and pain meds, and they started DIS yesterday--daily interruptions to see how he's responding. He's got the cough and pupil reactions, but not the nail-bed-push or gag reflex. Apparently he is ahead of their weekly goals, but still no promises (of course). 

Today he's back down to PEEP of 5 (which I understand is the normal pressure) and 40% oxygen. They haven't had to prone him (lay him on his front) in a couple of days, which I think means his O2 levels must be staying up lying on his back--this was a problem before. 

Yesterday he experienced arrhythmia (heart flutter), which runs in his family, but can also be a reaction to stress. They were able to control it with medicine and it didn't affect his BP. 

I asked how long patients are in the hospital after they get off a vent and the nurse couldn't say because he said he knows of some Covid patients who have been in for months, since this thing started. 

Despite this last, I found today's update encouraging, especially that he's exceeded their goals this week. I'll keep sending updates when I think there's news. 

Thank you for all your continued thoughts and prayers. As I've received encouragement from so many of you, I've also been made aware of others' needs: 

*Nicki Troyer (Crilow cousin): back in the hospital with infection; hard to treat when you're allergic/don't respond to antibiotics.

*Carlyle Schlabach, doctor working in AZ, TX; living/working on the reservation that's been hit hard.

*Doctors and nurses: bouncing between being needed for too many shifts or not enough.

*April Lo (Chicago): bacterial pneumonia; husband (ER doctor) gets to come home today from a month of shifts.

*Arleta and Kevin Kilmer Family (Dad's sister): while Arleta recovers from open-heart surgery at Greencroft, Kevin and family have stepped in to help her husband (amputee).

Whew! But God is good and His glory is shining bright in these situations and all others. Lots of love, Tami

[Mary Schrock]

Tami: glad to hear your father is doing better.

Today is the first time I left my house in a long time. My daughter, Karen, took me to her home. This way she could take care of me and get some housework done too. She is an RN and works part time at Goshen hospital.

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