Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Extubated!!

I don't know if you really care to know the minute-by-ICU minute updates on Patrick, but I thought I'd send a quick midday blip on how PK is progressing. When I arrived this morning, it was very evident that he had improved over night. He had begun to open his eyes and make small gestures when asked. After a few hours of positive improvement, his drs decided he was ready to be extubated. I asked him if he was ready, and he adamantly showed us a thumbs up! I then asked if I could kiss him and he puckered his lips around his breathing and feeding tubes. This, obviously, warned my heart, but also gave the drs a sure signal that he was indeed ready to breathe on his own!

So, he's been extubated, brought up out of his coma, and is now resting with a simple oxygen mask. He's still really drowsy, and not making great efforts to communicate, but all of this is to be expected, given the fact that he has been in a coma since early Sunday morning.

As the team was getting ready to remove his tubes, I could sense the active presence of your fervent prayers and love for us in that room. Several of my requests have been answered, in such a short time, for which I am so glad: he's out of his coma, he's breathing on his own, and the drs are forming some new conclusions as to why he has been deteriorating so quickly! Please continue to pray for their wisdom, and for his complete healing! We have no idea how he is doing neurologically yet, if we'll need to continue chemo, or if there will be any other deficiencies...but I suppose we'll mount each day's hurdle as it presents itself.

I feel like I witnessed a mini-miracle today....and anticipate many more to come over the next few days!

Thanks for faithfully coming alongside of us...

37 comments:

  1. Hooray!! Who knew that extubation was a word, and that it could mean such good things! How encouraging. I rejoice with you, Julie, and continue to hope that things will get better. Much love,
    Elisabeth

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  2. Yippee!!! What fantastic news!!!! We're thrilled at the news of this progress. We love you.

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  3. Yes! We want the minute-by-minute updates! Continuing to pray and giving thanks for this good news! Kerry and Wesley

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  4. Believe it or not, we DO want the minute-by-minute. Have checked several times today. Thanks be to God!!!!!

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  5. We are so happy to hear of Patrick's progress today! We will continue praying for his recovery and for you, Julie! Lots of love from the Badrinas!!

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  6. Thank you, Lord!!! And yes, we check multiple times a day to see if there is any update. So glad to hear the latest. Rejoicing and continuing to pray.

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  7. I echo what's above. Lots of people are checking regularly, so please do keep us up to date. And please give Patrick kisses from all 1000 of us! Love from the Woolavers

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  8. I can hear you singing the Hallelujah Chorus from here! Yeah, he has risen!!! (sorry that's a bit in bad taste but then again . . . )Love you guys,

    Aunt Jennifer

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  9. Hooray! Praise the Lord!

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  10. PRAISE THE LORD. So glad. Praying this is the first of many getting-better updates. I love the kissing story -- definitely still Patrick in there!
    Also, this is not an incremental update, this is breaking news! Take it from someone who writes incremental updates for a living. And regardless, no news is too small from the ICU. We've all been checking the blog every 15 minutes.
    Love you so much!
    Ali

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  11. oh, but we also know you can't update the blog every 15 minutes, even if we can come back to check it every 15 minutes, so no pressure! Just so glad to hear some good news!!

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  12. Thanks God and isa he will recover so quickly , i'ii keep him in my prayers

    Reem Ahmed

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  13. We have been praying for you guys. I have only seen you both at church. My good friend Amanda B. knows you guys. We have prayed so hard for you and I know so many of my friends that dont even know you guys are praying and my husband. God is good!
    Sending love and support.
    Carey Fredricksen Reddick
    The Reddicks
    Husband Donovan
    Son Dominic
    Daughter Elleanna

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  14. YAY!! I celebrate with you. Praise to God who hears...

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  15. Incredible! This is just awesome. Very exciting; I can see PK giving the thumbs-up.

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  16. Julie......I urge you to go to this link concerning the healing word of God. We are still earnestly praying....Jerry & Georgia Oakes

    http://www.choicesforliving.com/spirit/part4/healing.htm

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  17. Julie

    Please know that we are praying for you all. Also, we would like to help in anyway possible if we can. We are only about an hour from you in Maryland. Please don't hesitate to ask.

    Praying,

    Charlie & Becky Cate

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  18. Hello Julie,
    Gina (Piek) Schlieman here. I just happened to be on Facebook yesterday when you posted an update, and clicked on your blog for Patrick. I had no idea everything you all have been going through until now, and we'll definitely be lifting up Patrick in our prayers, as well as strength for you and your families during such a difficult time.
    Gina
    p.s. Our God is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine...Eph. 3:20

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  19. Julie - PRAISE GOD! Our small group prayed for you and Patrick last night. I am thrilled to see how God worked these miracles overnight. I pray for more miracles for you to witness in the days ahead and for complete healing for Patrick.
    Love, Catherine Honeycutt

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  20. (Thank you, Lord Jesus!)

    So grateful, and still praying with y'all.

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  21. Great news. Still praying. Luv ya Jules.

    -Rachel D.

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  22. Such great news. Thanks be to Almighty God !!

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  23. Thanks for posting this, Julie. I am also checking the blog regularly, so even small bits of good news are cause for rejoicing. Praying for you and PK and Ceci. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! -Leecie (Patton) Brown. PS- When there is an opportunity, our 2 year old girl would love to play with yours!

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  24. Julie, this is such an awesome answer to vast quantities of prayers! We are so thankful and will continue to pray. We've enlisted prayer down under for Patrick too--during your night, which is daytime here.
    Thank you for doing such a great job of keeping us informed. And praise God for bringing Patrick back!
    Love from Sarah and Stephen Young

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  25. Thankful for this news! And your update- yes, we do care about how things are going in the ICU- your blog is the first thing I check in the morning and before bed.
    love,
    Kate

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  26. Amen....hallelujah!! What amazing news...and what a better way to come out of a coma than a kiss! We know that there are many questions remaining but we praise Jesus that He is walking ahead of you and alongside of you...

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  27. Praise God! Patrick is awake again! My small group and I will continue to pray for his full recovery.-PB

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  28. God is so good... SO excited when I read about his progress today!! Can't wait to hear what he does next! :)

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  29. hey julie -- don't know if you remember me, but i keep in touch with jenn & your mom some, which is how i found out about your husband. i think we met up some time in recent years, but can't remember if that's true, or i've just seen fotos and heard bits of news over the years....

    wow! don't want to spout platitudes. just know that we're praying!

    love,
    marty & mike reimer

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  30. Praise God! Claire Hughes

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  31. I know that my Redeemer lives......Praise the Lord!
    Cheryl

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  32. Amen! Thank you Jesus!!

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  33. little by little... this is great news! We press on in prayer :)
    Liz and Simon

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  34. Rejoicing with you that Patrick passed this hurdle. May God's healing hand be upon you this day. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

    Martha Berg and Jeff Kraus

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  35. the sweetest kiss in all the world!!! congrats!

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Thanks for your prayers!