Hospital Day 11 & 12

Yesterday and today were mellow days for Mily, which is why this update is a little late. Keep in mind that even though we will try to update the blog everyday if we skip a day here or there it is not for a particular reason. Mily underwent the tracheotomy yesterday in the operating room and tolerated it with no problems. What does that mean? Well, as Beth explained in the previous post (this is Karleen posting) it means they removed the breathing tube from her mouth and placed it directly into her throat. Though the ideal situation would be to have it completely removed, a tracheotomy can be a good thing. This way we can insure her airway is protected and the chance her vocal cords will be damaged is greatly decreased. I want you all to take a minute to think about Mily's laugh. Remember it? When I think about it I hear her boisterous laugh almost saying the words: "HE HE HE!" The noise you make with laughing wouldn't occur without vocal cords. Remembering her laugh makes me feel better about the fact she had to remain intubated...hopefully we will hear that laugh sooner rather than later. Mily's mom told Beth that she feels better that the breathing tube is out of her mouth too. I didn't speak to Mily's mom about this, but I assume she feels this way for the same reason why all family's say it. The pt is more comfortable and the family finally gets to see their face without an extra tube. As of now, Mily is still receiving sedation and is set to have the feeding tube placed directly into her stomach tomorrow in the operating room. Like the breathing tube, this will be more comfortable for her and it can be easily removed when she gets better. We are still concerned about the blood clot that she developed for it has the potential to move from the location it is in and cause another stroke. With time that clot should reabsorb but this is another reason why her condition is still very serious.
Continue your prayers for Mily and her family. I believe that if anyone is going to fight this and get back on their feet it is Mily. She is strong, determined, and a fighter. Though she is usually the strong one, we need to be strong for her and help her fight. Every letter, email, card, and comment you write is being read to Mily and saved so it can be read to her over and over as she heals.
---Karleen