Recovery-Update 3

Well, I got to do my 5 PM visit with Katie. She was extremely drowsy. The pain seemed to have decreased. She wasn't pushing her epideral drip (pain relief) button nearly as much as she had been before. She did mention nobody should have to go through this much pain. Hear oxygen tube, that sat at the base of her nose, had been removed and laying off to the side. Nausea, being hot and thirsty were the biggest issues. I take that as a good sign. While uncomfortable, it seems that with each visit, the issues become less "critical". The nurses gave her something to manage the nausea she was feeling and they brought in an oscillating fan to help cool her down. Once the nausea decreased I was allowed to give her some ice chips.

My 30 minute visit turned into a little over an hour. Thank you ICU nurses. Momma asked about her daughter. How is Elena? What did she do today? What is she doing right now? Even heavily sedated her desire to care for Elena doesn't cease. We called home so Momma could hear Elena's voice. I scratched her itches, read some scripture and finally sat as she fell asleep. I almost fell asleep myself.

It's ~7:20 PM now. The final visit of the day is at 8 PM. I'm praying she's still asleep when I see her. She's obviously extremely tired and her body needs the rest. Plus, it'll help the recovery time go by faster. Visitors aren't allowed to stay the night with patients in the ICU so I'll be heading home afterward and returning again tomorrow morning.

Please pray that Katie would have sound sleep tonight. That she would have a speedy recovery so she can be moved out of the ICU into a regular room (where we'll be able to stay with her continually) and for continued pain relief.

Thanks again everyone. It's been great to see so many of you following her progress throughout the day and lifting her and our family up in prayer!

I keeping hearing "Oh when the Saints come marching in" over and over in my head. That's what I feel like has happened today. Even though I can't see you, knowing you're out there praying has been so powerful! There's less than a handful of us in the waiting room but there's legions of Saints out there battling on their knees for us and for Katie! Thank you! May God bless each of you!