Becca's Wish Trip........Update:September 2011.....Photo's....Sorta :)

[Khalana]

So happy to hear that the sedative is working. Lydia had some similar issues with the pain meds, they just made her more agitated. She was writhing and twisting while still fairly unconcious in the picu. I guess some kids don't react to them the same way as others.

Still praying for all of you.

 

[AshleyMWC]

Wonderful news, and continued prayers for continued rest and revocery for Becca!!!

 

[tinytreasures]

glad she is finally getting the rest she needs

 

[MaryAz]

I am glad she is getting some much needed rest. I really hope they find some more answers soon.

 

[CampbellScot]

rest is what she needs...she can start to heal now that all of her energy isn't being used up fighting the effects of the pain meds.

sleep is the greatest cure of all.

I pray that her dreams are sweet as she sleeps and heals.

 

[eyor44]

Mandy
How are you? I know how draining the hospital can be. I know you do a lot of sitting, so this may sound silly, but take a few mintues every once in a while to "rest". Having a cup of tea and relaxing by a window does wonders. I am praying for you and David also.
So glad to hear Becca is finally getting some rest. I agree with everyone else. Sleep/rest goes a long way towards recovery.
Lisa

 

[teresajoy]

BECCA UPDATE
I just got this from David

Day 7- Sedation

This morning, Bic was about as restless and agitated as we had seen her. It looked like we were in for a long day fighting with oxygen masks and everything else she is hooked up to. The nurse pleaded with the doctors to re-evaluate her meds and they decided to try a sedative instead (Ativan).

Bic went off to sleep like a baby. The nursing staff used the quiet time to give Bic a wash down, change the sheets and generally get things back ship-shape.

Later on about3 hours into her first dose, she came round agitated again.

Just to add insult to injury, our home lost power at around midnight last night when powerful storms and winds passed through. Seems a transformer was knocked out. At least it isn't cold enought for the pipes to freeze (yet). The repair was made after about 12 hours.

Neuro came to look at her head dressing and since it isn't actively bleeding, they prefered to leave it alone.

It suddenly struck me that Bic has stopped doing something that really went through us - grinding her teeth. It must have been two days ago that she stopped. That had started early on with her 'episodes' and was almost as bad as fingernails down a chalk board!

Besides squeezing hands and wiggling toes to some requests, there has been no contact with her. We are still unsure if she is aware we are close by and talking to her.

There was a first tonight in that Bic yawned a couple times. Probably not significant, but every little detail seems like a milestone to us. I guess we are looking for any small sign that she is on her way to the way she was.

The head drain is still steady and pink. No sign of motor oil yet!

So it seems the sedatives were what was needed, at least for a few days, to give her body (head) time to get better.

--------------------------
David ​

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Thanks Teresa.

 

[teresajoy]

Like everyone else, I am praying that this much needed rest will work wonders and Becca will be back with that beautiful smile soon!

 

[Shanka]

That is a great update! My daughter wen through a time of grinding her teeth in the ICU and they said it was a sign of neuro problems like seizures. (well it was in our case) So, hearing that the grinding has stopped is wonderful. Also, the fact that she has yawned a few times is AWESOME news. Yawning brings more oxygen into the lungs naturally. I think this is just amazing news. I hope she sleeps well and her body is able to heal. My Asia was given ativan for the same reasons and it really worked. After sedation for 5 or so days she woke up with far less challenges. I am just so happy to hear this news!

 

[maroo]

Teresa! Thank you for the update!!!

Mandy, David and Becca...we are continuing to pray for you guys!!!!

That is a great update! My daughter wen through a time of grinding her teeth in the ICU and they said it was a sign of neuro problems like seizures. (well it was in our case) So, hearing that the grinding has stopped is wonderful. Also, the fact that she has yawned a few times is AWESOME news. Yawning brings more oxygen into the lungs naturally. I think this is just amazing news. I hope she sleeps well and her body is able to heal. My Asia was given ativan for the same reasons and it really worked. After sedation for 5 or so days she woke up with far less challenges. I am just so happy to hear this news!

Thank you SOOOO much for this perspective on this news!! Do you mind PM'g Mandy and telling her all of this...I assume she is reading all of these comments, but she probably has questions for you...as you seem to be well versed in all of this!!!

This is great news, I agree! Your perspective is great news!

Thank you so much for posting this. It is very helpful for those of us that are praying to know how to pray!

Is your Asia doing well now? I hope so!!!! Blessings to you, too!!

 

[teresajoy]

That is a great update! My daughter wen through a time of grinding her teeth in the ICU and they said it was a sign of neuro problems like seizures. (well it was in our case) So, hearing that the grinding has stopped is wonderful. Also, the fact that she has yawned a few times is AWESOME news. Yawning brings more oxygen into the lungs naturally. I think this is just amazing news. I hope she sleeps well and her body is able to heal. My Asia was given ativan for the same reasons and it really worked. After sedation for 5 or so days she woke up with far less challenges. I am just so happy to hear this news!

Thank you for that encouraging perspective on this!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Aww, so glad to hear that Becca is resting. I was just coming in to see how she was doing today.

We just mailed out a card, I want Becca to know how many people were praying for her, and thinking about her everyday.

 

[Shanka]

Teresa! Thank you for the update!!!

Mandy, David and Becca...we are continuing to pray for you guys!!!!




Thank you SOOOO much for this perspective on this news!! Do you mind PM'g Mandy and telling her all of this...I assume she is reading all of these comments, but she probably has questions for you...as you seem to be well versed in all of this!!!

This is great news, I agree! Your perspective is great news!

Thank you so much for posting this. It is very helpful for those of us that are praying to know how to pray!

Is your Asia doing well now? I hope so!!!! Blessings to you, too!!

I am so glad that my perspective on this has been encouraging to all of you. Let's put it this way... Asia was dying. She was in seizures 24 hours a day and they were caused by a metabolic seizure disorder called Pyridoxine Dependency. She was a baby, so not as strong as Becca is at 12. Well, her brain was very swollen so they decided that if they sedate her it could help her brain heal and give her body a break from the seizures. They told us at the time that it was our last hope and that they didn't expect it to work. Well, Asia turns 12 on March 2nd. She is such a shining star! Actually, Becca met her at GKTW when we were there. It's Asia's dog that Becca kept asking to pet. Anyway, after 5 days being sedated they did another CT scan and things looked better. She woke up on the 6th day and the seizures were much better. Today she still has her challenges but she is doing so well. She walks, runs, and never stop talking. LOL Doctors are still in shock because she made it through. I totally remember the signs when I knew things would be ok. Blinking, yawning, anything "normal" showed the beginning of recovery for her. Becca will probably start doing other things like scratching an itch... that's the next step... that's when you know she is aware. I know that will happen...I just know it. Becca is a strong girl just like my Asia and I am so happy that they actually met each other.

 

[autumnpalm]

More prayers for your brave, beautiful daughter.

 

[eyor44]

How wonderful that she is resting. and yawning...that is a good sign.

 

[maroo]

I am so glad that my perspective on this has been encouraging to all of you. Let's put it this way... Asia was dying. She was in seizures 24 hours a day and they were caused by a metabolic seizure disorder called Pyridoxine Dependency. She was a baby, so not as strong as Becca is at 12. Well, her brain was very swollen so they decided that if they sedate her it could help her brain heal and give her body a break from the seizures. They told us at the time that it was our last hope and that they didn't expect it to work. Well, Asia turns 12 on March 2nd. She is such a shining star! Actually, Becca met her at GKTW when we were there. It's Asia's dog that Becca kept asking to pet. Anyway, after 5 days being sedated they did another CT scan and things looked better. She woke up on the 6th day and the seizures were much better. Today she still has her challenges but she is doing so well. She walks, runs, and never stop talking. LOL Doctors are still in shock because she made it through. I totally remember the signs when I knew things would be ok. Blinking, yawning, anything "normal" showed the beginning of recovery for her. Becca will probably start doing other things like scratching an itch... that's the next step... that's when you know she is aware. I know that will happen...I just know it. Becca is a strong girl just like my Asia and I am so happy that they actually met each other.

Wow!! What an awe inspiring story! Kids are resilient, aren't they!!

How cool that they met!!!

I can't wait to see your TR! PM me (or post on the Wish Trippers Thread) when you start it so that I can post a link on our Wish Trippers thread!

 

[tinytreasures]

more prayers coming your way


Shanka thanks for sharing your story
I can't wait to read your trip report

 

[teresajoy]

BECCA UPDATE
From David:

Day 8- Relaxed

The neuro surgeon saw Bic first thing and was happy with her progression. He noted that she was getting stronger on her left side and decided that they would leave things as they are through the weekend. The sedatives have really knocked Bic out and she is sleeping like a baby through most of the day with little agetation.

Plans for a CT today were put back to next Monday, when they will evaluate if the mass is shrinking and the area of stess has reduced.

Bic received a massage today lasting 30 minutes. She appeared to enjoy this with hardly any change in her oxygen sats. She even had some physical therapy.

The nurse reported that she had a 'converation' with Bic at one point when she was awake. She asked questions and got head shakes and nods in reply. The nurse was so excited at the progress and couldn't wait to tell Mandy the news. Sadly, we were unable to get her to repeat this for us. I think there are only a few times during the day that the conditions are right. It is some time when her sedatives are wearing off providing she is in the mood.

This morning, she was almost going all the way to the time that she could have more sedatives (4 hours), but by this afternoon, she was going over 11 hours. Her dose has been cut from the initial 2 ml (?) To. 1.5.

Another highlight for the day is that her nasal canula was turned off and her oxygen mask has been cut from 100 to 50 percent oxygen. Her oxygens have kept where we want them, mainly in the 70's and sometimes in the 80's. She has only desaturated a couple of times today and then only down into the 60's, so she is doing well on the medicines she is now getting.

The drain fluids are still pink and steady, so no issues there.

I think we are in for a nice quiet weekend, which is good all round. On Monday, they will be thinking about getting her out of PICU onto a regular neuro ward. The key there will be stability, particularly on the oxygen/agitation front.

--------------------------
David​

 

[teresajoy]

I think this last update sounds so encouraging!!! I wish Mandy could have seen Becca's conversation!