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Getting Better
By bbrown | September 28, 2006
Things are getting better. Madeline has woken up a few times from her medicine-induced slumber. Her hands are tied to the bed so she can’t pull out her breathing tube, which is lodged between her vocal cords; it’s pretty difficult to watch her cry silently and struggle to reach up and remove something that’s obviously gagging her. But it’s for the best.
The good news is that she’s looking good. Her reactions are exactly what you wouldn’t expect from a brain-damaged child. The brain surgeon came in for a visit earlier and let us know that the CT scan and the posturing could also indicate that her brain is swollen in her skull from the head injury. He said that no diagnostic test could tell us whether this is so or not. The only way to find out is to drill a hole in her cranium and sample the spinal fluid pressure.
Luckily, waking up can provide a valuable insight as to whether the brain is swollen or not. If she is reactive and not posturing when she wakes up, then her brain is likely not swollen in her skull. The most touching moment occurred when Sandi asked her if she wanted to read Brown Bear and she nodded her head vigorously, even as she squirmed and tried to release herself from her tubing. Even the nurses were driven to track down a copy for her!
I’ll post an update to this entry a little later.
[UPDATE (7:48 PM): I left Sandi and Madeline at about 3:30 PM to relieve Sandi's mother and take The Girls to their first soccer practice. It went well and I'll have pictures and the whole story up later. When I left, Madeline was sleeping peacefully and the breathing tube removal was imminent. I called just before soccer practice and the breathing tube had been removed! That is a huge step because I think Madeline's recovery would have been hindered by her anxiety over that. During the call, Sandi was holding Madeline and reading her books from the hospital's library. I could hear Mimi's telltale grunts and baby talk, which was more refreshing than I can describe. I just got off the phone with Sandi and Madeline has just been sleeping since that earlier call. She's zonked from all the phenobarbitol, so this is quite normal.]
Topics: Madeline | 19 Comments »
September 28th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Oh bless her heart! That poor little girl. We’re very thankful that she is awake and doing better.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
Can’t stop thinking about Mimi. Sandi’s voice and crying when she called chilled me deep down. I am continually praying for all of you.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:10 pm
I am happy to hear that she is woke up and is doing better. Poor little girl! I will be praying for your family.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:18 pm
So glad to hear that she is doing better. Continued prayers for you all.
September 28th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
Continued prayres for you all. Thanks so much for the update.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Hey sandi and Bill.
My heart and prayers go out to you and your family. I am praying she gets better really fast….
September 28th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Thinking about you and praying for you constantly. I think my F5 button is wore out.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
I’m so glad that there is good news. Prayer for continued progress and full recovery. We love you guys.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
I love you all with all of my heart and my thoughts and prayers are with you. Please let us know what we all can do for you. I certainly appreciate the updates. I will be praying all night for your strength and Mimi’s health. I know that the two of you are filled with more love for your children than yourselves. Know that you have several people that share that love for you and your family! God Bless you all and best thoughts your way.
September 28th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
I’m so glad to hear that things are looking better. Continued prayers.
September 28th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Thank God that she is getting better. I am relieved to hear the tube is out and things are calming down.
September 28th, 2006 at 10:36 pm
I’m very relieved to hear that the tube is removed and that she woke up. I pray that recovery continues like that. Thinking of you all
September 29th, 2006 at 3:51 am
Thank the Lord the tube is out and she is doing better. Continued prayers for your family.
September 29th, 2006 at 5:42 am
So very happy she is awake and the tube is removed, continued prayers for Mimi’s recovery and for that to never happen again. May God bless and keep you…
September 29th, 2006 at 5:46 am
Praise the LORD that she is doing better. Continued prayers for all the Browns.
September 29th, 2006 at 8:06 am
So happy to hear the tube is out and Mimi is doing better. I can’t wait to hear about soccer! Give Mimi and Sandi a hug for me.
September 29th, 2006 at 8:11 am
Oh my goodness! I am so glad to hear that she is doing better. I hope you have time to update us again today on her progress.
I am glad the tube is out! That is a major step….
You are in our thoughts and prayers!
September 29th, 2006 at 8:20 am
Sandi and Bill, I’m just reading this now. I’m relived to read that Mimi is doing better by the minute. You all are in our thoughts and prayers!!! What a scare. Give that little girl a big kiss from us!
September 29th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
I hope everything is going well. Haven’t heard from you all day but I know you are probably busy. I am praying no news is good news. Continuous prayers….