Celebration!

Oh wow, what a difference a day can make.  Janet has most definitely turned another corner.

It started early this morning when she began nodding her head and squeezing on command in response to questions.  She began focusing better and just being more and more alert.  At one point this morning, the day shift nurse asked Janet to give a thumbs up sign and she wasn't able to do it.  It wasn't long, however, before the nurse asked her again and this time he got the sign he was looking for.  To the nursing staff, this meant that Janet was ready to have the ventilator taken out.  Woo hoo!

The vent and the feeding tube came out about eleven this morning.  Janet has just continued to respond more and more as the day has gone on.  She is talking!  Her responses are short as I'm sure her throat is sore and her mind and body must be exhausted as it works to sort through what has happened.  This evening as the night shift nurse was asking Janet questions about her name and the month and the year, etc. - poor Janet looked really frustrated when the nurse came to the question asking about where she was and Janet started to respond "hospital."  The word "hospital" seemed to get stuck in her throat and she made a face...  I don't think Janet had this scheduled in her day planner.

Clinically, Janet's liver enzymes are markedly improving and her ammonia level was normal today!

It's so wonderful to see Janet's family rallied around her as she becomes more and more coherent...

The nurse tonight was going to let Janet try to get some good sleep.  They will do a swallow test to make sure she's ready to eat and drink.  They will be getting Janet out of bed tomorrow and at least into a chair.  I think Janet is quickly going to be graduating out of the ICU to a regular hospital room... probably not tomorrow, but soon. 

Our dear Janet is back.  I think we can all cry, laugh, celebrate, and most definitely thank God together.