DAY 44: Tightrope
This morning, Dr. Offner joined the others on rounds. Mom is roughly the same as she was yesterday, which is to say tenuous. The doctors are debating whether to start her back on antibiotics, which they suspended at the end of last week, and/or to start her on steroids.
Here we are checking her ventilator this morning:
The tradeoffs are what they've been all along. If they give her antibiotics, they might work against the bacteria, but they could also create an allergic reaction severe enough to kill her. If they put her on steroids, they might stimulate her lungs into action, but they might shut down her immune system and allow infection. It's a terrible tightrope we find ourselves walking, with Mom's life in the balance.
This afternoon, I'll pick up from the airport our Aunts Terri, Barbara, and Laurie, three of Mom's sisters. We're all happy that they're coming to see Mom. I hope that it's not for the last time.
Here we are checking her ventilator this morning:
The tradeoffs are what they've been all along. If they give her antibiotics, they might work against the bacteria, but they could also create an allergic reaction severe enough to kill her. If they put her on steroids, they might stimulate her lungs into action, but they might shut down her immune system and allow infection. It's a terrible tightrope we find ourselves walking, with Mom's life in the balance.
This afternoon, I'll pick up from the airport our Aunts Terri, Barbara, and Laurie, three of Mom's sisters. We're all happy that they're coming to see Mom. I hope that it's not for the last time.
Posted by Jason Kelly | 12:07 PM
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