Friday - Update (2/22)

Scott has been on the ventilator for almost 3 weeks (with a day or two when he was off it just after the initial surgery). There is a risk when the ventilator has been in place for longer than 2 weeks inthat the tube could damage the vocal chords. Not only that but Dad has been mildly to heavily sedated over this 3 week period as well, and that takes a toll on the mind and body.

That being said, Scott's going back into surgery today. He will have a procedure known as a tracheostomy, which we consider a good thing. It will be done at 11:30 EST. The benefits of this surgery will be:

• no tube in Scott's mouth and vocal chords
• less, to no, sedation since the tube will no longer be present
• the ventilator tube will be inserted beneath his larynx
• he will be able to speak again
• he will be able to drink again (when permitted)
• he will be able to eat again (when permitted)

Since he is already intubated and sedated there is little risk with this surgery and should take 20 minutes.

Now onto other updates:

The doctors have found more blood in Scott's stool, some in/around his G/J feeding tube, and the other day Dad threw up blood. They have been administering plasma and platelets as needed.

The GI docs think it might be an old clot that just broke up, but other are worried it might be something else. They want to scope the GI tract but I have not heard back on that yet. Yesterday they said the tracheostomy was no longer an option because of the blood, but they are moving forward with this today. Getting some mixed signals, but we hope this quick surgery is enough to wake Scott up and keep him more aware and lively!

Allie was down on Wednesday and Scott's brother is heading down today, returning Saturday.