2bliss

Good morning everyone A huge thank you to Hubland for my beautiful flowers and all the treats you sent to Karmi's parents. It really gave them a positive boost. Also, thank you for supporting little Karmi throughout her illness. It has been a really close call, but she is such a little trooper! She is now in the general paediatric ward which means mum can sleep over. This seems to be doing her a world of good! I have here the first sighting, in a long time, of the magnificent bunny smile! (Seen here with one of her aunts.) (PS: Please don't be offended that I'm not answering all the PMs in my message box at this time.)

Dearest Hubbers, you are the very best! Karmi's parents are buoyed by your generous and thoughtful gift. Each is a favourite. Whilst being a distraction from their everyday stress, it is also a reminder of how many people care. Thank you, thank you! (Taking of photos in ICU is not allowed, but mum sneaked one of Bunny with her new soft toy.)

She is very ill. Doctors are now convinced she has some kind of genetic condition and testing is underway.

For those of you who believe, please pray together at 18:00.

They've tried the easily digestible formula, but now discovered that there is a reflux and aspiration problem. This must have contributed to her lung damage.

Nope, they had to get her back on the oscillator in a hurry.

UPDATE: Karmi is now on a regular mechanical ventilator only, but is not yet coping. Her sats drop to the low 70s at times. She has to work harder for every breath. I hope our little fighter manages better in a while. They will feed some "Neocare" instead of milk through the nasogastric tube to see if she can digest it. Milk did not work. Wish I had more good news and that she was improving faster.

Oh dear, Karmi did not digest any of the milk fed to her via nasogastric tube earlier today. I don't know what the implications are or how they will treat the problem.

Is "charity department" the new term for "university"?

Hey, don't joke. Universities are downsizing and not re-hiring! Our unit has half the staff we had three years ago and they expect us to do way more work than before to bring in more funding and subsidies.

You give me way too much credit. I had nothing to do with all of this kindness. Besides, it will help ease my guilty conscience for not being there as I should. In my field of work, this is the very worst month of the year and as much as I would like to take leave, it just is not possible right now. EDIT: Spelling.

UPDATE: Karmi is stable! Meds and physio continue. They are slowly lowering both the percentage of oxygen as well as the pressure of the ventilator. That is great, because it means her airways are not quite as blocked anymore and air can get in with less force. They've not been able to do away with the oscillator just yet. She is on total parenteral nutrition, but today they also gave her a bit of milk via a nasal feeding tube. I hope that goes well. Final bit of good news for today is that the overall swelling of her body and some internal organs is starting to go down.

Yes, please, count me in!

Any open office space for rent next to yours? Sounds great!

Slowbee, you have been busy! Thank you to you and all the Hubbers contributing to such a huge treat for mom and dad.