This morning started with a good report on Ruby's night. She was stable once they were able to get her properly sedated. The surgeon was in to check on her, he is pleased with how her heart is handling things without the ECMO machine. She still has pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in her lungs) which is why she needs to be heavily sedated. If she starts moving around or wiggling the pressure causes her oxygen saturation to drop and the pressures in her heart become inbalanced.
So, still trending in the positive direction and getting off the ECMO machine was a good step forward. The surgeon said right now he is thinking that if all goes well he can maybe close up her chest this weekend, but to expect her to be in the PICU for the next week or two and we should plan to be in the hospital for a month (total). That was hard to hear, but she needs constant care and this is how she will get better.
So today they are keeping her steady and adjusting her paralytics and sedatives, giving her a new medication for her lungs, and giving her a diuretic to help her pee. Baby steps.
Thanks to everyone for your support and prayers for Ruby ❤️
