The nurse practioner called me at 7:45 am to tell me that Amelia's blood pressure continues to be a problem. They are now putting her on epinephrin. Her urine output is poor, so they are putting a catheter in her. They are putting in a peripheral line if they can in order to monitor her blood pressure more closely. They are starting her on antibiotics in case she has an infection. She is getting a blood transfusion and platelets this morning. Her blood gasses are still good.
I will let you all know if I get updates later.
Later update : 5pm
Amelia has had a pretty poor day. Her blood pressure has been erratic, though they have been unable to actually get a peripheral line in her to read properly. She's full of fluid and her urine output is still not where it needs to be. The cathater has helped, though, and there is product flowing through. She is on 3 blood pressure medicines, 2 for her heart and one for her urine. They aren't set at high levels at the moment, but moving from the one to the 3 overnight does not bode well. Her ventillation needs are about as high as they can go on this system, again, with increased O2 levels. Needless to say, we're pretty worried. Worst case scenarios are still in play, which would be renal failure or a heart stun; and it doesn't seem her RDS (respitory distress syndrome, which is the result of everything else) is clearing up. Bascially, she's still feeling the effects of the PDA surgery. Her heart still isn't ready to take on the added reponsibility the PDA closure passed it.
They're bagging her right now - giving her air by hand - because her O2 output was so pour while they were giving her a test. It's frightening to watch, but does happen sometimes with little ones when they de-sat very low.
We hope she can turn a corner tonight. Her urine output is a good first omen.
TAB
Update 8:10 PM: Amelia's blood pressure has been stable for a couple hours now. The want to put in a peripheral line so that they can get her blood for blood gasses without having to poke her. Every time they poke her her oxygen dips down into dangerous levels. Because her blood pressure had been so low she was "blowing the line." Her veins couldn't handle it. Now that her blood pressure seems to be under control, they may attempt it again.
They have taken her off of one of the blood pressure medications (dobutamine), they have brought down her dopamine down to a level that is not for her blood pressure, but is just helping with her renal output. Her urine output has been decent tonight. She now weighs 3 lbs. 10 oz., but she probably has about 400 grams of fluid on her. She needs to urinate a lot to get rid of this fluid. I have been obsessively watching the urine slide through the catheter tube into the container that measures the output.
Her saturation levels are very high, but she continues to be very touchy. The nurse couldn't even check her diaper to see if she had urinated around the catheter without her oxygen saturation levels taking a nose dive.
We feel much better about her situation now than we have most of the day. CCB
UPDATE 10:50 PM: Amelia had her best blood gas since she was born. Her CO2 level is 43. They will take another blood gas at midnight and we will be up to call right away and get the results. Right before we left tonight, they brought her down from 60 breaths per minute, down to 55. She is at 71% oxygen as of when we left her. Her urine output was looking pretty good. No more updates under this title tonight. I will start a separate post if we have any more updates tonight. CCB
7 comments:
Hey Xina and Todd,I love you! We will keep praying for your Amelia, for her heart to be as strong as yours are! You fill mine every time I check this blog or think of you. Love, B
Saying a rosary for sweet Amelia...and mommy and daddy!
Kathy
We prayed for Amelia at Mass this morning; we hope to hear good news soon. Marie Grip
Yes, I too will keep the prayers coming. Funny story, I put my offering in the box to light a candle for her a church this afternoon and couldn't find the thing to light the candles. Thankfully a lady came to show me how to do it - you push a button next to the "candle" and it turns on! It's a light bulb!?!?! Well, even though it wasn't a real flame (I felt gypped), the thought and prayer is genuine!
And, Christina, you keep the flame alive in your heart and put a candle in your window. Todd, take good care of both of your girls as I'm sure you are. We love you and are with you always.
Thank God for this evening's good news. Amelia is having prayers said for her by people all around the world, through the "Catholic Answers" online forums. These are real prayer warriors, and I know Amelia will feel their prayers! Marie Grip
Praying for Amelia and her mom and dad.
Vickie Cross
My dear Todd and Christina,
Each posting on Amelia keeps us feeling close as we wait with certain hope for the next. We cannot do more for you than support you with our love and prayers, as Amelia steadily works at readying herself to come home.
I am sincerely thankful for the wonderful family and friends that continue their prayer vigils. We are indeed fortunate to be surrounded by such loving, caring and devout people as these. Never have I been filled with such emotion as when I read the posted comments from each. Baby Amelia has to know the love she elicits from us all.
Stay strong, Love MOM
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