Such a Good Day

She's peeing! They tried yet another kind of diuretic (bumetanide, or something like that) this morning at 9:30 and it worked! She's had total output today of over 3000 ml (3 litres). To compare, yesterday she had 450 ml. I've been so worried about her kidneys these past several days since she wasn't responding to all the diuretics which had worked before, so I was telling myself that was a good sign this morning that she was finally responding. But I was still guarded. That's one thing about this place . . . you grasp on to all the victories (both big and small) because you never know what's around the corner. But the doctors were still concerned too because they ordered a renal consult. So the kidney doctors came to visit and recommended two tests - an ultrasound and some kind of dye test.

We all also decided to get a pic line put in because her 3rd I.V. wasn't going to hang on much longer. So, this afternoon we went to get a pic line, which was pretty traumatic for Bailey. She was quite scared because she remembered that they stitched those in. So, we got through that and went on to ultrasound. Then we got back upstairs to our room after being gone about 1 1/2 hours, and Dr. D was standing by our door. Bailey, not yet hooked up to monitors, told him to go out in the hallway (where the monitors are) and see if she was still in rhythm. We all just kind of looked curiously at each other and I was the only one brave enough to ask, "So, do you think you're not?" She said she wasn't sure but felt PVC's or something. So she got hooked up and they ordered an EKG, and YEAH!!!! she was still in rhythm. Dr. D said he thought he was going to have to go downstairs and smack the interventional radiology guy for throwing her in flutter (which I guess is a legitimate risk when getting pic lines). Ha! Glad he didn't have to do that. So THAT was a huge relief. And, then, about 1/2 hour later, he came back and informed us that the ultrasound looked good. YEAH!!!!! Yet again, such a HUGE relief. She still gets the dye test in the morning at 8:00 (I'll have to wake up early!), but Dr. D didn't seem too worried about that test. He said the results of it wouldn't change their plan of action.

I tell ya, I felt like running down the hallways shouting "She's peeing! She's peeing!" About 10 or so medical people were standing outside Bailey's room during their rounds this morning (they were gathered there to discuss Bailey) and through the window they saw her go into the bathroom for a while and then come back out. Dr. Bramlett peaked around the corner and said, "Did you go?!" We all laughed and he said, "How does it feel to have a whole group of people wanting to know if you peed." Ha! I told him we were just going to announce it on the PA system. I think everyone in the hospital now knows that Bailey's responding to the diuretic. We're so proud!

(Sorry, I hope I'm not offending anyone by using the "p" word. We're just so excited.)

So she had an echo yesterday that was better than the one before; she's been losing fluid; her kidneys are functioning . . . I'm not sure if we could have had a better day today. It must be a direct result of all the prayers out there because I know there are lots of them. Thank you all so much for being there with us. You are all so special and we are so grateful for each and every one of you. We are enjoying the comments - they give us a daily boost. Thank you!

We're hoping for another good day tomorrow. Not sure how long we'll be here still - we're thinking at least a few more days, give or take a few days. (How's that for accuracy?) I'm happy to stay here as long as we need to to get a handle on this fluid. They say it might come off quickly (like this) at first but will likely slow down and hit a wall at some point because it's taken a long time to accumulate all the fluid, so it will still take awhile to get it off. They can't get it off too quickly because it could drop her blood pressure, increase her heart rate, and cause dehydration and then flutter. We keep hearing "a fine line" in nearly every conversation we have with a medical person.

I'm so grateful for this place.

Good night, everyone! I think I'll sleep well tonight.

Angie