May 30th update

Well, we were moved out of PICU to the 6th floor in children's hospital. The drs. and I wondered if Preston might have ICU psychosis. I don't know, but we are hoping that is true. He is having swallowing and talking issues. It is so hard to see him try to say something and cannot get the words out. And we are having problems with him taking his meds. because he is having problems swallowing. Sometimes he cannot even remember how to suck a straw. It is so heartbreaking and discouraging. He is now going to have to have speech, occupational and physical therapy. He is sooo tired of being in the hospital and people bothering him. So I don't know how it is all going to go. We are sooo tired. He didn't want Pam to stay with him tonight, so Jr. stayed. I am so exhausted. Last night was hard. I think he will get more sleep on the 6th floor. He may be able to have the shunt internalized next week. But what of all of his other problems? It is supposedly caused by the infection, and it can take weeks for him to get better. Only God knows the future. I can only take one day at a time. Junior feels like he will recover from the loss of speech, etc. Preston responds to Missie the best of all. He hugged her tonight and will squeeze her hand when she asks him questions. It is so beautiful to see her love and caring for her brother.

The little girl next door to us in PICU, pulled out her respirator and I guess she coded. All of the alarms went off and someone yelled, and everyone went running in there, and the mom came out crying, and I went and put my arms around her and held her while she cried. Then the nurse told us we could go in the room and sit for a few minutes, and they got the little girl stablized and Missie and I stayed with her. Later the mom came and thanked Missie and I both and hugged us. Outside of their room when I was holding her, Missie said, "Momma, pray with her." I did! She was so tore up. The little girl was stablized and is off the respirator and breathing on her own. She has a cancerous brain tumor on her brain stem that cannot be removed. Please pray for Dorrie, that is the mom's name, and her family. They have 2 little boys and the little girl is not quite 2.

I heard a song one time by Jeff and Sherry Easter and it is entitled, "The Unexpected Cross is Always Hard To Bear." How true that is. I didn't expect that Preston wouldn't be able to talk or eat. He drank a ice cream float today, and ate ice cream, and mashed banana, and some yogurt. So I will try and give him the same tomorrow until he can eat solid food.

Thanks for praying, and please continue to do so.



Norma Gwen