AMAZING Progress!

Today was INCREDIBLE!  First of all, they started the Bean on two new drugs... one is Methadone.  Yes, Anna Nicole Smith's drug o' choice.  EAK!  It's given to patients to help ween them off narcotics and minimize withdrawal.  Here's some Bean video pre-psycho clown makeup at a one person party.  (Bad Joke!)

Secondly, after two doses of a steroid to reduce inflammation around the breathing tube, they were able to remove the breathing tube.  The Bean has a nasal oxygen tube again, but she'll likely be weened off that too.  Her voice is gone, so any sort of cry is muffled and weak.  This is due to the tube being down her throat for a week.  It will come back in a day or two. 

Third, they also removed the ART line (Arterial) which they pulled blood from, this is that monstrosity on her left hand in the video.  Now, she only has a central line in her shoulder/chest, and the pacing wires sticking out of her.  Oh, yeah, she's off the pacing machine too.  It's all Bean on the heart rate now.  So, that's it... just the pacing wires and the central line are all that remain from this surgery.  Incredible day of progress.

Lastly, I got to hold the Bean for about an hour.  She was still hooked up to a bunch of monitors, tubes, and such (it was pre-ART line removal too), but it was an amazing hour after an entire week without.

It was an incredible day and I'm so excited to race back tomorrow and actually get to interact with the Bean.  Next step is getting her feeds online and getting her off the O2.  Progress feels very good!