Greg Covid - Day 14 -- Doctor Report Not Very Good

Greg's doctor called me around 5 p.m. today.  He did not have very good news.  There has been no change since this morning and he seems more comfortable.  He's been on the vent for 10 days now and may end up requiring a tracheostomy (trach)  The can connect the vent directly to tube in the throat, so we can avoid sedation   He stated that Greg "would need to go to long term facility if he is able to survive from the Covid."  He would continue recovery with occupational and physical therapy so that he could eventually go home.  

They have not found anything growing in cultures, except for what they found in the tube.  That means there’s an infection in the lung, because the lung is producing secretion and they cultured the secretion.  As stated previously, he is on Vancomycin, which is the antibiotic for this.  

The hard question if he’s going to turn around in next 3-4 days.  They were hoping to extubate last week, but he wasn’t doing well, so now he is not anytime soon to be extubated because he’s requiring 55% oxygen through the vent.  Normal is 21%.  He is also requiring extra pressure to keep his lungs open.  His pressure is 12.  A normal person requires 5, so Greg's numbers are pretty high and means his lungs are still not functioning well and he requires a high level of support.  A trach can give more room to continue the vent.  He is not liking the vent and was trying to fight the vent.   By "fighting" the vent, what is happening is that Greg's breathing is not matching the vent.  They need his breathing to follow the machine.  When they reduce the sedation and he wakes up little, he realizes the machine is doing the breathing for him and he may be breathing too quickly, so they need to increase sedation.  When I asked the doctor why they can't have the vent follow Greg's breathing, he said because his lungs are not functioning well and if the machine followed him, he would develop low oxygen in his blood because his lungs are sick.  The more sedation he receives, the more weakness that he’ll develop in the chest muscles and other muscles.  

The doctor said that Greg is more likely to be awake on the trach and that people tolerate a trach better than vent and they can cut down on sedation.  Some people may not like the trach and vent and still require sedation, so Greg may still require sedation.  He said that some people may not be able to come out of the vent, even with a trach.  He said they are trying to find a good balance between the breathing machine and sedation.  We go day by day. Obviously, they will continue his care and try to minimize complications from the vent and the treatment. 

The kids and I talked about all this, and based on my discussions with Greg in July, after his last hospitalization, he wanted us to do whatever was necessary, as long as he would not end up a vegetable.  So, if it comes to it, we will tell the doctors to do the trach.  If there's a chance that he can fight this and come home, then we need to try.  

I feel as though the doctors are almost required to give worst-case scenarios and don't want to get anyone's hopes up when their loved ones are so sick.  But, they don't know Greg!  They don't realize how hard he's fought to live for the last 29 years!  I remember one new doctor a year or so ago, read Greg's chart prior to him coming in and was amazed that he was even walking!  He said he had no idea what to expect, based on all the health problems he's had.  That's my Iron Man!  I feel like these doctors are kind of thinking the same thing.  The nurses have all been much more hopeful in their conversations with me.  I just have to continue to hope and pray for the best.  My mind just will not wrap around the thought of him not making it through this.  

Greg will be tested for Covid on Tuesday or Wednesday and if he is negative, then we will be able to visit him, as he can come out of isolation.  

Please continue your most fervent prayers!  Greg needs all of us to pray as hard as possible.  I pray that God's will is the same as mine, and that is to restore Greg and bring him home.  I don't even know what else I can say.  I don't know what to think and I'm just kind of numb right now.   

Continuing with pictures of Greg, the picture below of Greg and his brother, Gary, is over 30 years old and just proves that Greg was a superhero long before he was Iron Man!   Who else can claim to be both Batman AND Iron Man!  No one that I know!