Post Op Day 3 ... Success!

Owen wanted to say THANK YOU for all the prayers... he is looking fantastic!   He was a busy boy today.  Lots of sitting up, working his lungs, blowing bubbles and he loves the bed percussion treatments.  His oxygen is on 2 liters and he is sitting at 100% saturations.  We'll slowly wean him down tomorrow.  I can't wait to see those little cheeks tube free for the first time in 5 1/2 years!! 

He has been so brave and tough.  No tears, no fear.  He watched his nurse pull the ivs out of his feet and didn't even flinch.  Then we pulled the central line out of his neck, snipped a lot of stitches and pulled these monsters out of his Jugular vein.  He didn't cry, just closed his eyes and we counted until it was over. 

After that was done, we got him out of bed and sitting in a chair for a bit.  Then he had his echo.  He was so excited to finally get to eat real food tonight, but the doctors decided to give him one more day.  His voice is still raspy from the ventilator and we don't want him to risk aspirating fluids into his lungs, so he needs one more day of rest.  So tomorrow.. he will feast like a king!  

I have been giving him Pedialyte and just recently added some blended food to his gtube.  He is tolerating it great and isn't feeling as hungry since his belly is getting food. 

Everything is positive.  Owen is positive.  I am so inspired and amazed at how well he is handling everything.  Not a single complaint of pain and total cooperation for the nurses and therapists.  Tomorrow we will get him walking and out of bed a little more.  The chest tubes aren't putting out much fluid, but enough that he may need them another day. 

That about wraps up our busy day in the CVICU.  Owen loves his nurse tonight and he is her only patient since he's in isolation.  So I am off to the RMH soon to get a full 8 hours of restful sleep.  Continue to pray for the donor family.. each time I place my hand on Owen's chest and feel his heart beat, I think of the family that gave Owen a second chance.