Monthly Archives: May 2024

I was shaken awake by the transplant surgeon to let me know the 4 am Xray showed more fluid around Zayne’s right lung, and was booted out of the room. Zayne needed a procedure to install a pig’s tail to drain the fluid. The surgeon removed over 1 Liter of fluid – Zayne would have never been able to clear that much on her own.

Since the left drain tube has not been draining too much blood, it was removed while Zayne was under sedation. The two other drains were converted to bulbs that can be hung from her gown. However, they may need to be changed back to the pump version.

I hope I can get some nutrition in her. Being sedated will not help her nausea situation. There will be another late PM post.

Zayne is off the nitric gases and is just having supplemental oxygen using a regular nasal cannular. So far, she has not been able to keep any food, water or medicine in her stomach. And, she is about to be re-dosed after 11pm with a medication she threw up an hour ago. Maybe an hour will make a difference. Most of the day has consisted of stomach and chest pain. Finally, she was given her first dose of morphine and that did the trick (she didn’t throw up from it and it stopped the pain).

A lot of IV issues today: one leaked and had to be removed, another could no longer be used, and a 3rd was completely pulled out (probably when the nurses were moving her on and off the bed). A new IV was placed, so we are minus two IVs.

I’m hoping Zayne can put some food into her stomach that stays. She last ate a full meal a week ago Friday. She is getting stronger each day since she was able to sit up without support and could stand on her own. PT is her new nemesis – it doesn’t help that they came to bug her right after a vomit session. Zayne was saying “NO!” and “Go Away” and “I don’t want to”, so she is being Zayne.

Tomorrow (Friday’s plan):

• Remove one of the 3 chest tubes.
• Replace the two remaining chest tubes’ floor repositories with bulbs that can be pinned to her gown. This means she will be able to get out of bed without a team of people.
• Remove the Foley.
• Daily X-ray (from the comfort of her bed)
• Occupational Therapy (OT)
• Physical Therapy (PT)
• Speech (for eating and swallowing)
• Try to eat and drink, and keep contents in stomach

Finally, a great day – Zayne is still there and doing her thing. She put up such a fuss last night that the respiratory specialist decided to take out her breathing tube. The first word that she mouthed was “food”. I saw the very first smile on her face when I told her she had her heart transplant.

I finally got to hear her voice in the morning (her vocal chords are still recovering). She wanted water and wanted it badly, but the nurse said “no” because she hadn’t been cleared by speech. After more badgering, Zayne was presented with ice cubes to replace her request for water. After a while, some of the cubes melted and Zayne got the cup to her mouth (she is very weak and shaky) and drank the water. I just watched, and the nurse was pretty upset because she wasn’t supposed to have water.

Zayne is cleared for soft food, but pain is keeping her from eating much. She got out of bed to stand on a scale – it took 3 people but who’s counting. After getting back in bed, Zayne slept for hours.

Tomorrow promises to be tougher. Not only will she get out of bed, but will have to walk to a chair and sit in it.

Hopefully. she will continue to make progress every day. The heart still needs some improvements, but I was concentrating on all of today’s accomplishments.

The neuropsych nerds came to visit, but Zayne fully checked out. She may have an MRI at some point, but only if she can lay still without needing sedatives (says me).