Today’s doctors report was not so encouraging.  The pulmonologist who has been seeing Cindy in the hospital has been on vacation this week.  His partner, who is Cindy pulmonologist when she is not in the hospital, has a totally different point of view of Cindy’s treatment plan.  You would think that two doctors from the same group, would agree on their patient’s prognosis.  Instead, it seems like Cindy’s recovery is based on the flip of a coin.

This week, Cindy was often on total assist from the ventilator.  The doctor thinks it would be kinder for her to be comfortable more than trying to make more progress in weaning off the ventilator.  The tracheotomy will probably be done this Friday afternoon.  At some point (not sure when), she will have a swallow test to see if she can eat and drink.  Her most immediate goal is to suck on some ice.  Anything more than that would be a bonus.  It isn’t clear when she will be leaving the hospital. 

Cindy was also told that she is not a candidate for the surgery to repair the hernia any time in the near future because her heart can’t take it.   It might be possible to have the surgery in a year or two.

Today, a nurse observed how much Cindy is able to tolerate having the breathing tube down her throat.  She said that most people  don’t do as well as Cindy does.  I know that I couldn’t.  She is braver than me.