So, we have been on the stepdown unit for about 1 1/2 days now and Braden is progressing and we can see the end in site. So for the last couple of days the doctors and nurses have been monitoring Braden's intake and output very closely to make sure they he is taking in enough fluids and also getting rid of enough and that his kidney is functioning properly. One of the doctors(ie med student/resident) that has been following Braden is named Andrew and his has been sooooo patient with Braden and very attentive to our needs as his parents. When we first got to step down we found that Braden still had a suture in his neck from where the Central Line was so Andrew had to remove it and Braden was so brave throughout the entire process. In stepdown there is only room for one parent to stay at the bedside so the first night I decided to and Ian went back to the hotel to sleep for the night. And needless to say my night of sleep was minimal as the area to Sleep in about 3 feet wide and I woke up with such a sore back. So Ian arrived at about 7am and I headed back to the hotel to shower and take a mini nap. Well, my mini nap turned into a 5 hour nap which was much needed. This was the first amount of solid sleep more than 1 hour that I got since admission. After I woke up, I ordered food for Ian and I and headed back to the hospital. When I arrived, Braden was down to only 1 IV and not on any fluids. They were trying to maintain the IV site bc he has to have a procedure called an angiogram before going home and will need the IV for sedation. So, we just relaxed, watched TV and played games for the rest of the night. On Tuesday night, I decided to go back to the hotel to sleep and Ian would stay at the hospital. At first I was very apprehensive to not stay with Braden but I knew that Ian would take EXCELLENT care of Braden and would let me know for any reason if they needed me back at the hospital. I awoke on Wednesday morning and prepared to go back to the hospital and got an update from Ian. I had learned that throughout the night, Braden had slept on his stomach for some of the night and inadvertantly pulled out his remaining IV, but they were going to allow him to remain without one until about 8pm on Wednesday. Braden has continued over these last 2 days to work with Physical therapy due to his muscle contractures and is making steady improvement but we still have some work to do. We are now just waiting for Nana and Papa to arrive to spend some time with Braden.
So, what is in store for the next couple of days. Tomorrow morning at about 0830 Braden will have an angiogram to take a look at all of his vessels and have to remain on IV fluid and hydration for about 6 hours after that because of the dye that is used during the procedure and the word right now is that on Friday morning as long as their are no complications we will be discharged home, which is music to our ears.
Once again, thank you for all the thoughts, prayers and encouragement. It means so much to us! Love to all who read.
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