Bump In the Road

The respiratory numbers didn't stay stable for very long after visiting hours ended. About 3 hours after the tube was removed, Mom's breathing became labored. The Respiratory Therapist put on a C-PAP(constant air pressure) to push some air closer to her lungs. The Respiratory Therapist said Mom's lungs need to build up some strength. The hope is they can remove the C-PAP for longer and longer periods of time, until, eventually, hopefully, she will not need the C-PAP at all. Lung strength sometimes does become an issue, and there's a good chance things will work out. If things do not work out, the next step would be a tracheotomy to ease her breathing. It would, hopefully, be temporary, and allow her lungs to build up strength over a longer period of time. As I left tonight, Mom was drunk on Atavan, on a C-PAP, and sporting somewhat tenuous respiratory numbers.