Post-surgery – Day 5. Milestones in a marathon

Deane on the day he was admitted to the ICU

Deane without an oxygen mask for the first time in five days.

On the way home from the hospital, I fell asleep on the subway. Almost missed my stop. I guess adrenaline will only take you far.

Deane is not running on adrenaline. He is, as they say in sports journalism, gutting it out, digging deep and – do I dare say – giving 110%.

Today was good day. There were a few minor dips in his oxygen levels, but nothing major and he was able to correct them himself. After a sleepy morning – perhaps due to mom letting him stay up watching videos last night – he was wake and very much himself this afternoon.

The doctors acknowledge that they don’t know why Deane’s lung has collapsed or consolidated . It sometimes happens after being intubated during surgery, especially in people whose muscles may not be as strong as others. What they do know is the more Deane can change his position the better. The aim is to break up and dislodge as much of the secretions – phlegm to most of us – in his lungs so that he can cough it up.

Today he was sitting almost upright in his bed and because he is getting stronger, his cough is stronger and, as they say, more productive.

The best part of today was that for about 2 hours Deane went without any assistance breathing. He had a few small dips but basically held his own. For the first time since shortly after his operation, he was not wearing an oxygen mask. He does have the feeding tube coming out his nose, but it was really reassuring to see his face and hear his voice.

The nurse from the orthopaedic department who brought Deane down to the ICU told him on Friday that she wanted to see him back upstairs by her next shift – tonight. We didn’t make it. But after today, I am confident that we will see her soon.