Day 3 - Get Moving Around Day!

Morning:

I guess my big news is that I got some sleep in the hotel room last night.  After almost 40 hours with limited, interrupted sleep, it was amazing.  One of those sleeps that you don't move and panic somewhat when you do wake, and then try to figure out: a) where you are, and b) what happened, and c) was it a dream?  Well, the answer is:  I am in a hotel in Boston, Sarah got her heart fixed and NO it was real!  So checked texts, Judi chimed in at 5:45 am saying to take my time, all is good (except I know she likely has not slept much now).  Shower, get dressed, and make the morning walk to BCH's grand central.

Sarah, more importantly, is doing great.  She had a good night sleep and is awake when I get in at 6:45 am.  Meds are working well and she is comfortable.  I send Judi home to the the hotel to take a nap and clean up - she is tired.  Sarah and I take a pretty good walk down to the main elevators and back to the nurses station without incident.  She is not wanting to be in the bed, so we switch spots when we get back.  Get some breakfast, but is not hungry, just drinks some grape juice.  Gotta get the eating going better, that is the only piece that is not moving along too great, but not a concern of the docs.

Cool nurse, Sianna (who just got back from
snowboarding at Jay Peak) draining her chest tube.

Dr. Lang (Cardiologist) giving Sarah some information.  Her
heart sounds 'amazing', and he assured her, it is OK to be feeling
cruddy given what she went through on Monday.

Todays planned activities:  Blood work this morning, chest x-rays, removal of chest tube and incision bandage, lots of walking, and more eating!

Thank You Danville

Dear Danville Class,

This is Sarah.  Thank you SO MUCH for all the great cards and letters.  This is a nice way to pass some time because I am in bed a lot.  My heart got fixed but it is a long time to get better, and I am tired a lot.  My Mom and Dad take me on short walks to get my energy back and the hospital is HUGE.  I want to get home soon to I can get back to Danville and school.

Sarah reading all the great get well cards!

Sincerely,
Sarah :)

Afternoon Activities

Since this morning, we have made some progress.  Sarah was really down and not feeling so great.  Just sort of sad and dizzy feeling.  This is typical that on day 3 or 4 to get depressed and withdrawn.  She did get her chest tube pulled out on about 11:30 this morning, and that was not a pleasant experience.  It did hurt quite a bit and she was not happy after that - but it was out, there was hope.  There were some stitches holding the tube in her belly and they just tied those up to suture the whole.  Done.  Sarah said she just wants to sleep now.

After about a half hour she wakes up and says, "Daddy, can you get me some popcorn?  And a grape Popsicle?!  I think I have my appetite back!"  She seemed happy and excited.  Yes!  Popcorn...  where the heck can I get that, not at the cafeteria, but maybe at the gift shop or the CVS in the lobby.  I did find a small bag of Smart Food and a fun brain teasers book.  So we snack on popcorn and do some puzzles.  Then she ordered her lunch and ate a little bit more, but not too much, so the food is progressing slowly.

The day did not have as much up and moving around as we had hoped.  Her poor body has gone through a ton, and this was her recoop day after having such a big progress day yesterday getting out of ICU.  She got a lot of rest between the various required activities and she needs it.  I am on the floor tonight so Judi can catch up on her sleep.  Think the nurse would yell at me if I jumped in the comfy hospital bed with Sarah??  Signing off... Pete