Carrie’s medical team was successful at getting her off the ventilator and extubated today. She has been on the ventilator for 18 days, having been intubated on August 10th.

Today she was far more alert and awake than she was yesterday. It was still clear that she is experiencing some of the residual effects from the drugs they used to keep her sedated while she was intubated. But nonetheless, her anxiety was greatly improved today and she was able to easily follow all of the medical team’s directions during the extubation.

She was breathing completely on her own with oxygen support for about four hours. As the day went on she was certainly growing weary, so her breathing was assisted through a bipap mask. She is not at all a fan of the bipap for sure. She wasn’t at all happy about having to use it. But she tolerated it better by far than she did when she was first admitted to the hospital. And as much as she hates it, she was using it successfully.

Her oxygen saturation is now a solid 100% on 40% oxygen through the bipap. She is calm and anxiety is managed, though its a bit rough for her as she has occasional coughing spells. The bipap doesn’t lend well to coughing and clearing your lungs, and I can see her timing her coughs in between breaths given by the machine.

This is another huge step forward in Carrie’s healing, and certainly reason to be giving praise to God. But some prayer requests remain. Complications could still land Carrie back on the ventilator, we pray for healing moving forward. Carrie also has a low blood count, something that they are more concerned about as an expecting mama. They are not sure why her blood count is declining, she shows no signs of an internal bleed. It has also been declining very slowly, something that also has the medical team puzzled. Regardless, she will receive two units of blood tonight. From there we pray that we see no further issues with blood loss.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I Corinthians 13:4-7

I spent the entire day at the hospital with her, having left only when visiting hours ended at 8:00pm. As our time together today was winding down, I again reminded her how much I loved her. She nodded her head yes. I encouraged her and told her how much I wanted her to come home, even if it meant using that stupid bipap mask for a little while. Again she nodded yes. And I ugly snot cried under my mask as I prayed with her for healing, courage, and patience. As I left the room I turned to wave to her and I gave her the “I love you” sign through the window. She raised her hand and gave the sign right back. It was the last thing that happened, the last time I saw her before she was intubated 18 days ago. I kept right on ugly snot crying all the way home.

Today was a big day. Today was a big answer to all of our prayers. Please keep on praying, Carrie still has a lot to overcome. But today, God showed mercy on us. Carrie has now succeeded beyond where many have fallen. Pray that she continues to be healed by our Heavenly Father. Pray that we are all bestowed with the courage and strength to fight this to the end, and Carrie and Jeremiah come home healthy.

Thank you all, my heart is full!