Update - 07.12.17
Thank you all for your outpouring of love, prayers, and support.
I am sorry I have not had an opportunity to respond to you – this
hospital stuff takes a lot of time and energy! Please know you have
touched our hearts and lifted our spirits!
I thought I would take you all for a ride on our roller coaster
. . .Buckle up! Here we go!
Since my last update (071017) we have experienced the
following:
Monday (7/10) – Harry exhibited
more strength when following commands; however, our real miracle came
when the doc asked him, “What’s your name?”, and Harry replied,
very plainly, “Harry Sweebe!” Brian was in the room at the
time, and Teri just happened (no coincidence) to be on the
phone at the time and was able to hear it! Isn’t it just like our
personal God to put that whole timing together?
Tuesday – Occupational Therapy came in
the morning. When Kelly said, “Good morning, Harry”, Harry
responded immediately with, “Good morning.”
Later in the day, Harry had some difficulty breathing
and was coughing up significant junk. Doc ordered a chest x-ray. It
confirmed their suspicions – Harry had developed Aspiration
Pneumonia. They tried a couple options for oxygen, but his breathing became
more labored (this was not sustainable), he was non-responsive to commands, and
his temperature began to climb to over 102! They decided to do a chest
x-ray and ordered breathing treatments (nebulizer) and blood work.
Around 2 a.m. this morning (Wednesday),
some of the test results came back and indicated that his lactic acid levels
were too high. That meant he was not getting enough oxygen to the tissues in
his body. His temperature went to 200 (top number – didn’t get
the bottom number) and his breathing situation worsened. They
had to sedate him and help him with his breathing, so he was put on a
ventilator…temporarily. Within just minutes his 200 blood pressure
dropped to 198 and his temperature began to come down. He rested
through the rest of the night/morning.
While the sedation was making all this tolerable, it was also
diminishing his natural responses to commands, which is how the doctors measure
his progress. Therefore, they have cut back on the sedation. It’s a
balancing act!
Another CT Scan of the brain was done this afternoon – no
additional swelling or bleeding present. Now, they will turn their attention to
determining the cause of the stroke; however, not much more can be done until
the bleeding is absorbed into the brain, because they cannot see through the
bleeding to determine the cause.
Good news…throughout the afternoon and evening, they gradually
decreased Harry’s dependency on the ventilator, and the plan is to remove
it in the morning! If he handles that well, he will be moved out of ICU
into a general/progressive care through the weekend and to rehab possibly early
next week.
I’ll keep you posted on his progress. Please keep lifting
us with your prayers…the LORD IS listening!
Love to all,
Carol, Harry & Family
“May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may
the name of the God of Jacob protect you.” Psalm 20: 1
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my
sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be
silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” Psalm 30:11