The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

The big news tonight is that today they removed the breathing tube AND the NasoGastric tube, so Cathy can talk again. Meds have been reduced, so she is only on one painkiller and some antibiotics Her vitals were good all day, and she got rid of a lot of water. They pulled the tubes about 1545, and tonight at 9 she was still doing just fine, holding Oxygen saturation levels at 90% or better, except when she was coughing or doing her long inhale breath exercises. I never did see it drop below 88%.

She can now have sips of water and ice chips by mouth, first time since last Thursday.

Most importantly, she is rapidly becoming her old self, dry, sardonic, and teasing the nurses. That, we all think is a good sign.

There is at least a possibility that they will move her out of ICU tomorrow. I have told them more than once, "lets not rush it this time." but she is much better than she was last Thursday.

Thanks for the concern and prayers. More as I know it.

Hey Ed,

Really good news about Cathy. We will keep her in our thoughts and prayers.

Our banjo player finally made it back home yesterday after emergency open heart surgery about 7 weeks ago which included 2 plus weeks of icu and the rest of the time recovering with extensive therapy etc. When he first came out of intensive care he couldn't even scratch his own nose. Now he is walking with a cane and gaining his body functions back more every day. It was quite the ordeal. God answered our prayers and things are looking good finally.

Best Wishes!

Bill

I'm glad to hear that Cathy is doing better. I have been reading the logs on this but not replying. Once out of ICU she will progress more quickly as it is so noisy in there.

Dean

Now I can breath a little easier too!!

Take care Ed

Paul

Good to hear. We will keep thinking of you guys in our prayers.

Great news, Ed. Thanks for keeping us posted. She will remain on our prayer list. Remember to take care of yourself, too.

Abrazos,
Harlan

Glad to hear it Ed. We're still keeping you and Cathy in our thoughts and sending a prayer your way will this ordeal is over.

Phil

Thanks for keeping us up to date, Ed, that is wonderful news.
We will keep praying for Cathy AND for you! Hope you are getting the sleep you need...

Buzz

Sounding real hopeful. Glad to hear things are on the mend.
Betty

Hi,

When I got to Cathy’s room this morning she was sitting in a chair, sassing the Physical Therapist. Then the two of them went for a short walk, and came back and rested for a few minutes, then they went for another walk, slightly longer – maybe 100 feet round trip. Throughout, her oxygen saturation stayed above 90%. She was a little tired after that.

She has been dissing the food seriously, but since she is still on an all liquid diet, I guess that is to be expected. I tasted the pureed ‘clam chowder’ and much as I like clam chowder, I wouldn’t eat it, and she hasn’t been. She tries a little, makes a face, pushes it away, tries something else, makes a face, pushes it away, and so on. She usually has eaten most of at least one thing on her tray, especially if there is a cup of Luigi’s Italian Lemon Ice. She has even been leaving more than half of her coffee most of the time, and in our family, that is serious.

Tonight, the ‘entrée’ was Low residue, Low Salt, Pureed, Vegetable Beef Soup. She took a tiny little taste, grimaced, and tucked into it like a lumberjack. I asked if it was good, and she said: “No, but I have figured out that if I want to get out of this place, I have to start eating what they give me.” She ate all the soup, had a couple of sips of the chocolate milk, drank two thirds of her coffee, and about a thord of a Luigi’s Italin Ice – it was cherry, and not as good as the lemon, so she didn’t eat it. We’ll have to tell the dietician that Lemon is the preferred flavor. The dieticians are pretty good. About 11 AM one stopped by and chatted with Cathy about what she did and didn’t like. The next meal, the Ensure was gone, the Yogurt was gone, and there were two milks, regular for the coffee, and chocolate for drinking.

The coffee is pretty wishy washy, so after conferring with the nurse tomorrow we are going to smuggle in a decaf Latte from a decent coffee shop (or Starbucks). Her Blood pressure is still a bit high, and her blood sugar is bouncing around.

The lung doctor was in today, gave a good listen, said the CAT Scan looked really good, and she was taking Cathy off most of the antibiotics.
Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. Keep ‘em coming….

Sleep?? Oh yeah.....

Edk,

I am still keeping Cathy and you in my prayers. Get her some good coffee. It can do wonders to have a good cup of coffee.

Loretta

Thanks Ed for the great update. Sounds like she is getting stronger and hopegully out soon.

Dean