6/22/09 & 6/23/09

Melinda had a good night and coughed very little. Melinda's fever is gone and the chest x-ray shows improvement. Melinda had a great day and was awake and alert. Dr. Huff said things are looking better but thinks she might have another infection. Physical therapy put Melinda in a chair for 45 minutes and she was able to follow some commands. Melinda continues to have good and stable vitals and the doctors are pleased with her progress.

Last night Melinda coughed through the night and was given 1 dose of lidocaine. Melinda's cough is getting better but at times is still very forceful. Melinda was wide awake at 6:00 this morning and is still awake this evening. Dr. Huff says some bacteria grew and infectious disease would be giving Melinda another antibiotic. Dr. Huff wouldn't say what kind of infection or the name of it only that it is a rare infection that they don't see much of. Dr. Huff changed the ventilator to pressure support 25 to start weaning Melinda. Melinda has done well all day with only a few times of having apnea. This means Melinda got used to the ventilator helping her breath and her lungs are weak and this will just take time to get her lungs strong. I was told by the doctor that there could be another reason why Melinda stops breathing at times. The doctor says with a brain injury, the brain is not healed yet and can't tell Melinda to breath. In the next few weeks of weaning Melinda off the ventilator and she still continues to have apnea we will have to transfer to Houston TX and I was reassured that when Melinda's brain completely heals her apnea will go away. Please pray!pray! extra hard that Melinda will have no problems with her apnea and getting off the ventilator. Thank you for all the love and support we have received and please continue to pray.