Monday Update

The nurses said that Jack had a rough night sleeping. As a result, he is a little more lethargic today. His oxygen level (in the blood) is in the low 90s. The oxygen they are providing him is set currently at lower at 2. By comparison, yesterday after the breathing tube was removed he was originally set at 4. Ideally, the doctors want his blood oxygen level to be in the high 90s to 100.

He is still asking for drinks but the speech therapist said it will still be a little while longer. The test they did today showed that his gag reflex is still to weak to take liquids. Ironically, the nurse said it would be more likely that he would get something like Frosty rather than water first since it is more viscous and less likely to get into his lungs.

Jack had another CT scan this morning and the neurologist said that everything looks normal from that perspective. The team has him scheduled to start physical therapy tomorrow, probably to do things like get sitting him up and moving around his extremities. Focusing on things that may have been impacted by the stroke. Tonight the nurse wanted to see how his left side was doing and asked him to move his left foot. He wasn't able to do this but he was able to squeeze the nurse with his left hand.

He is scheduled for his third dose of of Campath tonight. There is chance if his condition continues to improve they will move him out of the ICU and into the Oncology department. They will not know for sure until after the treatment.

Understandably, Jack keeps saying he wants to get come up and come home. We reassure him that he has come a long and way and just needs to be strong a little longer so he get healthy enough to get out of here.

I have been reading the thoughts and prayers from everyone to Jack each night and he enjoys hearing them... so keep them coming!