He Does It His Way

Current Big Goal: Extubation

Goals for today:
- Lower dex from 0.8 to 0.5
- Lower NAVA support from 1.0 to 0.8

Rowan got dressed today! I always say the first step to getting better is to get up and get dressed for the day, especially when you've been sick for a while.

"Dex" is short for Precedex. It's the sedation medication Rowan is on to keep him from being uncomfortable or upset at the intubation tube. They will wean this down and then turn it off a few hours before they extubate him. This is the only constant medication Rowan gets through IV now. He was more awake today, but never acted like he was hurting or uncomfortable. Infact, he watching his mobile, looked for his wrist rattle, and followed me while I danced around the crip trying to reassure myself that neurologically, he was fine...just sleepy.

He seems so much happier on the NAVA. He gets to breathe more normally. Also, as his Uncle Scott put it "he gets all the cool tech". At this point, I swear, I'd go talk to hospitals about how awesome this setting for ventilators is for patients like Rowan. If you are a physician who doesn't know about the NAVA setting, you might read up on it. It's kind of awesome.


Tomorrow's Goals will likely be:
Lower dex from 0.5 to 0.2
Lower NAVA support from 0.8 to 0.5

Extubation Plan:
When Rowan gets to 0.5 on the NAVA, he will stay on that setting for several days. We will watch the machine. We need one number on it to stay between 10 and 15 most of the time. This shows that he is working appropriately hard and his diaphram is strong enough to support breathing forever. SO, we want him to do well when they change it to 0.5 and we want to see his numbers settling into that 10 to 15 range. When they get there consistantly, it'll be time to throw that "E" word around again.

Rowan and Evelyn are spending more time together. We are working on getting her to feel comfortable sitting with Rowan in the crib. Child Life came by and said we were doing everything we can to let Evelyn be a part of his life and vice versa. So we are settling in for our long haul...hopefully we'll get adjusted just in time for him to be ready to go home.