8/10/07 - ventilator, ICU, keep praying

Thursday morning James started having seizures. When Mary got there, his breathing was extremely shallow, his pulse ox was 68% (very low), and he had five grand-mal seizures in rapid succession. Mary called 911 and they took him to the local hospital in Pleasanton, where they intubated him and put him on a ventilator. They gave him a tremendous amount of Ativan, Valium, and Versed. He was breathing some on his own and seemed to improve. When they considered him stable, they transferred him to our usual hospital in Walnut Creek, where he is in the ICU. He has been running some fever and seems to have aspirated something

This afternoon we were given the news we knew would come someday. To keep the seizures under control, they must give him lots of Ativan, which suppresses his ability to breathe. If they lessened the meds so he could breathe better, he would begin to have seizures. They tested him this morning to see if he was breathing on his own - he wasn't. The hospital-based doctor told us that it was unlikely that James would ever come off the ventilator.

We met with the doctor, the social worker, and the respiratory therapist. They all said that James could stay like he is indefinitely, but that is not what we want. He has some lucid moments and can nod or shake his head. He can squeeze hands and seems to be reaching out for hugs, although his restraints won't let him move his hands that far. We have the support and love of our best local friends, and the prayers of many, for which we are very grateful. Matthew and Jill are spending the weekend with us.

No decisions will be made until next week, after we get the perspective of our neurologist as to whether some different level or combination of meds is worth a try to give James a little more oomph.

This news is hard, but James has been on a steady decline over the last ten months. He has been in God's hands since day one, and that is not changing. Pray for right decisions, for lack of suffering, and for sweet James's comfort. Love and thanks to you all. B