He was taken off the vent this morning! He's still on O2, but even today, the lowered it from 80% (at Noon) to 70% (at 8:30)
The doctors are going to run another Echo either Monday or Tuesday so see if they can find the weakness in his left ventricle that showed up Thursday. That seems to be the only official problem. Of course, if they try and place him flat, due to the morbidity of his midsection, he can't breathe and has resperatory arrest! So, they won't lay him flat.
His doctor also said that he is a classic case of Pickwickian Syndrome and that the next step is to try and get some of the water retention off of him. Once that happens, that should alleviate most of his problems.
He was in good spirits, and I'm also challenging him to do more and more from each session. He's been getting physical therapy (courtesy of your's truly) 3 times a day! (I'm up there 4 of the 5 times) as well as tactile therapies to alleviate the dryness of skin and maintain his sense of well being.
That is a load of rubbish for he's been getting leg, arm, and face massages and fru-fru ointments to keep him calmed down. I need to invest in Bath and Body Works, so I can recoupe some of the money I've spent in there for these things! LOL
He's not out of the woods yet, but he's still fighting the good fight, and won't quit. That's the reason why I'm trying to move heaven and earth for him.
It's also the reason why I'm allowed up to 30 additional minutes per visit - because I'm helping him fight. I think the nurses respect my efforts.
Anyway, I am once again humbled by the efforts of those here. You guys (and ladies too!) have helped make it possible for me to become the leader I know I can be.
I would also like to thank 2 people - who only occasionally read here - who were there for me this weekend when I truly needed them. A Christian cannot be blessed any more than I have been, having 2 friends who could be with me through the really thick, and the razor thin.
Anne, Nancy, thank you for being you.
(((((you)))))
(and keep up that good "PT!")