Day 15

Day 15

Jax day 15: 970 grams or 2lbs 2 oz. The head ultrasound shows no sign of a bleed on the right side. The left is still a grade two bleed but has not worsened. The grade two bleed means that it did bleed initially into the left ventricle but it did not bleed enough to intrude into the  brain tissue or cause swelling of the ventricle. This blood should start to absorb soon. They are comfortable waiting two weeks for the next head ultrasound. His respiratory blood gas numbers are good and they are going to push him a little today to wean the ventilator. They are going to lower the continuous pressure on the lungs at exhale (PEEP) to make him work harder and help him hopefully come off the ventilator soon. Following that will be a decrease in breaths per minute, instantaneous pressure, and his oxygen level. If he does not come off of the vent in the next couple of days we will give him steroids to help his lungs develop faster. His bowels are still not working properly (no gasses in them) so no food again today. This is likely a side affect of the Indomethacin. This should sort out in the next few days... Nothing we can do but wait for this. His hematocrit is low again and he will be needing blood again soon. There is no sign of the murmur yet, sounds like the PDA is closed. I know he was smiling today during one of his cares and I swear if he didn't have a tube in his throat he would have been giggling. Overall things are better today and another win for Jackson. FOJSP.