Good morning (afternoon to some late risers)!
Rita and I had the pleasure of going to a baby girl's house yesterday who has a trach. The family agreed to meet with us so they could answer some of our questions, dilute some of our fears, and show Rita and I that it can be done. One little hiccup in our plan, is that Rita and I were advised to get a double stroller some time ago, as Lauren will need some equipment when she goes out. Vickie (the mother) allowed us to see if her double stroller would fit into our Neon. Well, it doesn't. So we may have to try different sizes of strollers, or different ideas.
In regards to paperwork and sending Lauren home, we received word yesterday that Lauren has been approved for 2 ventilators. One to keep in her bedroom, and one to be used on the mainfloor or when we travel. We also had a "team" meeting yesterday after visiting the family, where Lauren's doctor for this week, some respiratory therapists, workers for CCAC ( Community Care Access Center, who provide funding and nurses), Colleen (our social worker), Steve (Lauren's primary nurse), and Kate (Lauren's occupational therapist). We wanted to discuss Lauren's progress, and make sure that everybody is on the same page, and understand the steps involved in sending Lauren home. The hospital will be reveiving the ventilators a little later than when they thought. The vents will be arriving a few days later, and because the staff want to make sure our home nurses as well as Rita and I are trained on the vent and that Lauren is stable with the settings she'll be on, we're now looking at getting Lauren home at the end of Nov.
Lauren is doing well, and had her current vent settings adjusted, and is hardly de-satting (for those who don't know, "de-satting" is when the oxygen intake lowers). Rita and I are just getting ready to go see her, so I would like to leave you with something I read a the hospital just the other day:
"Tough times don't last, but tough people do."
Thank you for all your love, support, thoughts and prayers.
