So today they are going to try and wake Porter up again. They turned the ventilator off yesterday to see if he could breath on his own and he did but he couldn't regulate his breathing and was hyperventilating. So they put him back to sleep and turned the vent back on. Today since his stats and vitals look so good they are going to try again. His pneumonia looks better and the respiratory therapist is going to work with him all day to regulate his breathing so they can remove the ventilator completely. He is still in ICU with a nurse at his side 24/7.
Melanie took her other kids home last night for the first time. She and Jeff are going to alternate spending nights at the hospital. Grandma Shelley is staying with the kids so Mel and Jeff can both be at Porters side during the day. The doctors have said it's critical that one of them be with him at all times since they are slowly waking him up. They will need to keep him as calm as possible. They've inserted a PIC line in his chest, since he tries to pull out the IV's and vent when he comes to.
His back brace is keeping his spine aligned and will heal on it's own. He'll have to wear it for a couple of months. Once he can breath on his own and they can keep him awake they will start to do testing on his nerve damage to see what the extent of that is going to be. As of right now they are saying he may have to wear a diaper for the rest of his life. But they don't know for sure until he wakes up. He is being given Pediasure in his feeding tube to give him much needed nutrients to help him get stronger. His one remaining kidney is still bruised but is working just fine.
I love you little Porter....keep getting better buddy. Hang in there Mel and Jeff....we've come so far now!!
Mindie - just wanted you to know I am thinking about you too and that I love you. You are such a great sister and aunt - and of course, cousin!
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