Day 9: Post-Op in ICU

This blog post is copy-and-pasted from our CaringBridge account (https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomaslauer) and published in retrospect.

November 26, 2020

Quick Prayer Request

All specialists on the team have given the green light to extubate Thomas today on Thanksgiving! I ask for a prayer for Thomas to be comfortable and as protected from fear as possible.

This process is a tightly coordinated dance of pain control, lessening sedation, and oxygen support. It is typically distressing, which is why family members of adult patients are required to leave the room. Parents of pediatric patients are given the choice (which is good because I am pretty sure wild horses would have to drag me away). Thomas's wonderful respiratory therapist personally prefers a parent to stay because the child is calmed by seeing his mama's face. 

Please pray for me to have fortitude if I must witness Thomas suffering during the process in order for us to get to this most wonderful goal of being off the ventilator.

Happy Thanksgiving! Our family has so much to be thankful for!

Thomas Is Extubated!

Thomas was successfully extubated at 11:35 a.m.! He is not yet talking but he wanted me to read him Frog and Toad while he rested his eyes. Now he is listening to soothing classical music and trying to take a nap after all that excitement. We are overjoyed! 

A difficult Thanksgiving night

While Tom has had some great progress by coming off his breathing and NG tubes, tonight will also be a difficult night for him.  He is more awake now and he is very uncomfortable with opiod and benzodiazapene withdrawal symptoms and pain from his surgery.  He is still receiving pain management, but they need to vary the types to mitigate dependency.   

The medical team has forewarned us that tonight will be the most uncomfortable night for him but that this is expected and should improve into tomorrow and beyond. 

Katherine and I will both be with him tonight to take turns holding his hand and support each other.

We are so grateful for all the prayer and support.  Please continue and know that we are praying for all of you as well.

Below is a video from the family enjoying Thanksgiving dinner together at home. The children made place settings for Mama and Thomas in absentia, which touched me to the core. Thanks to CN who cooked this amazing feast for our family, even when she had her own family to cook for!