After the transplant Alicia was in the ICU for only three days, to us that was definitely too short. Her meds were to be stopped very fast and she was to be moved to her own room after only three days in the step down unit and then sent home after approx a week of being in her own room. We panicked, we kept on saying that Alicia is not ready for such quick and sudden changes but they decided that she is. No one was agreeing with us but Alicia (who still does not have her voice back) in her own way told the doctors that things are happening way to fast. They seemed to listen to her. She was weaned off Morphine so fast that she started to have big withdraws, she would cry a lot and within 48 hours only slept 2 hours. She developed a fever I believe it was from all that sudden changes and stress. Her breathing went up to 90-100 resp. a minute (just as it was before a transplant) her lungs were still very wet and she needed to be suctioned often. So as you could see if Alicia was in her own room and no one looked at her things might get ugly. Alicia’s nurses and doctors discussed her condition in more detail and decided that she will stay in the Step down unit for a few more days and the Morphine will be weaned off through out a month not a week (which means we will stay at the hospital a little bit longer). One day after that decision Alicias meds were changed and rearranged and she started to feel and look better. This long weekend was great! she felt good and looked good as well. A few nurses came to visit Alicia while Kathy was holding her and they started to talk to her and play peek a boo and believe it or not Alicia made the biggest smile, we all cheered and of course mommy and a few nurses shed tears of joy. This wasn’t the first and last smile there was more through out the weekend.
We will probably move to our own room today or tomorrow. Today we will be talking with the doctors about the move and her aftercare. We know many of you would like to come and visit, we will find out today of what the procedures are for allowing visitors at this time and I will update the site in a day or two with these details.
