Pat Hartman Sikes - Updates

These updates are from Bill Sikes who has been sending emails on Pat's improvement. Not everyone may be getting the emails - so I am posting them here on the blog.

March 22 -Pat has shown some very slight improvement. They have reduced her pain meds and oxygen level. This is the best news we've had. Scott and Kim are going home today. I will be hanging around the hospital as much as makes sense. Probably best to text me, 703-409-5700.

March 24 -For the most part she is the same. They tweaked all her meds to see how she'd do and had to take them back up when she became agitated. Their plan is to keep doing that from now on. She still has a long way to go, but could not possibly be in better hands. I appreciate all of the generous offers to help me get through this. I am OK and will let you know if I need anything. Keep the energy rolling toward Pat, we both appreciate that.

March 25 - Today was a mixed bag of continued slight improvement and maybe the reality of the extent of injuries. They have been, and will continue, to lessen her pain meds, sedatives and oxygen level. She responded very well to these things today except for what I would describe as increased awareness/increased agitation. She is obviously ready to be done with all of this. We had the most significant communication today, even though I couldn't understand any of what she was trying to convey. Hence, increased agitation. .

March 27 - Pat continued to show slight improvement and they are accelerating the reduction of meds and oxygen levels. The last two days they have turned off the oxygen and let her breathe on her own. Thirty minutes the first day and forty five yesterday. Because they have reduced the sedatives she has been much more awake and alert. Unfortunately, this has also led to increased aggravation with us not being able to understand what she is trying to say to us. More baby steps!

March 31 - Yesterday Pat was off the ventilator until late afternoon, when they had to hook it back up. This was good progress. This morning she is off it again. They got her up on the edge of the bed, also great progress. Somebody said she had graduated from crawling to baby steps and that is accurate.

April 1 - Today Pat was moved into the "Intermediate Care Unit". She is really doing great. Still can't speak, but is breathing better and actually smiling. They are beginning to work on the speaking thing and stepping up the physical therapy.

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