Sunday Update

Good news. They took out Jack's breathing tube. He had been on "minimal" settings for most of the day and they decided he was ready to come off the respirator. Before this, he had had been writing to everyone that he wants all kinds of drinks (grapefruit juice, coke with lime, a milkshake, 7UP). Now that the tube is out he keeps asking for a shake to all the nurses and doctors. The lead doctor said he will probably need to have the physical therapy team take a look at him and set up a program to get his left side stronger. He told the doctor that if he gives him a shake he'll move his left arm all he wants. Obviously, he hasn't lost his sense of humor. :)

Before Jack can get any drinks the doctors said that the speech pathologist will need to wait to see how he handles a swallow test tomorrow. Apparently, patients that have had a breathing tube in for an extended period of time tend to have issues with their gag reflex, so if we gave Jack a drink too soon there is a chance he might get it in lungs and he would have to be put back on the respirator.

They are continuing to give Jack platelets as his numbers were still on the low side. The white blood cell count is down from yesterday (around 130). His temperature has been perfectly normal. The pulmonary fellow said that the culture from the latest bronchoscopy did show abnormalities and the lead physician said he would be surprised if the cancer cells were not present in Jack's lungs based on the first biopsy results. The are scheduled to give Jack his final dose of Campath tomorrow and will evaluate his levels then.

Jack's lead doctor is actually rotating off from his care today and we are going to meet a new one tomorrow who will take over his treatment. So far, the doctors have been excellent in keeping us informed and the nurses have kept Jack very comfortable. Hopefully, there will be more good news to come.