It was kind of an emotional day today. Some of Alicia's medication dosages are being decreased (which is a good thing). One of them is Morphine (pain and sedation medication) By decreasing Morphine Alicia is able to be more alert. She is moving her arms, kicking her legs, opening her eyes and trying to pull all sorts of tubes and lines out (this isn't making the nurses happy so from time to time they still have to sedate her but only a little bit). It is fun to watch her being so active. She still probably doesn't recognize us by looking at us but I am sure she recognizes our voices. Today, for the first time in three weeks, we saw Alicia cry. We couldn't hear her and she wasn't making any sounds because she still has a breathing tube inserted which blocks her vocal chords. It was so sad to see Alicia make crying faces and not being able to hear her voice or not being able to hold her and comfort her. Believe it or not Ala is still fighting a fever, her temperature jumps from 36.6C to 39C, I think it is starting to puzzle the doctors of why this is happening. Some say that Alicia's body is fighting with the artificial heart, her body knows that it is a foreign object and it's fighting with it. We were assured today that she is still on the waiting list and if the right heart comes along the transplant will happen.
Today Alicia had visitors from the McGuinty government. The hospital coordinated this visit to show the government how a device like the Berlin Heart can prolong a patients life. The purpose of this visit was to ask the government to support the Berlin Heart and to allow for some funding for it. At the present moment there is no funding for this type of treatment and the hospital paid for everything from its foundation.
I have posted a few pictures of the Pilgrimage. Most of them are of Emily and Monika as Kathy was the one taking the pictures. I still don't know how they managed to make it all week in the 35C weather. I think that is one of the Miracles of the pilgrimage, it makes you stronger not only mentally but physically.
Kathy made a few comments on the pictures.
Till next post....... Mirek and the girls.
Thank you Kasia for taking me along with you and Emily, I hope God will hear all our prayers. I will always be there for Alicia and Emily
Monika
Posted by: Monika Slupianek | August 23, 2005 at 14:48