A Good Day But More to Walk Through

December 13, 2022 7:00pm

Yesterday was a good day for Zeke. He was able to get his chest tubes and pacing wire out. He’s started his chest physio to help with the secretions in his lungs and to help activate everything. This is all with the hopes of being extubated. He needs to be able to activate breaths and reach certain pressures on his own in order to get the tubes taken out.

His medication weans are progressing slowly but this is to be expected because he’s been on some strong opioids and inotropic medications.

Overnight he became febrile and cultures were sent out this morning to determine what type of infection he has. He also had an ultrasound and X-ray this morning that showed that his left lower lung is diminished and his left diaphragm is immobile. Dr Zulan and Dr Honjo are discussing what next steps need to be taken. His phrenic nerve has been injured and is unable to help his diaphragm on the left do the necessary work. This affects his extubation plan. If he is unable to fill his lungs adequately and get his diaphragm to work in conjunction, he will need another surgery. Please pray that this is not the case, and his phrenic nerve has simply been stretched beyond capacity and can heal on its own or it does not require a surgical intervention. This all seems like a lot and it is but we continue to entrust everything to the Lord. Thank you for continuing to pray for Ezekiel.

Isaiah 26:3-4 “You keep him in perfect peacewhose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”