Sunday, October 20, 2013

Hayleigh Report and the Homefront

Door into Hayleigh's Room.  Nurses moved the picture from above her bed to here....nice!
Hayleigh continues to progress toward health.  On Friday she was completely weaned off the nitric oxide and did just fine.  That machine is now out of her room.  The medical team continues to wean her off things like morphine and various sedatives.  Ventilator supports continue to be lowered and there is now talk of extubating her if things continue to go well.   Thank you for your continued prayers for complete healing and returning our Hayleigh to our family healthy and whole.  

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UPDATE SUNDAY 1145AM -- SETBACK AND PRAYER REQUEST

I typed everything else in this letter Saturday night.  Unfortunately, Hayleigh had her first backward step in this recovery process on Sunday morning.  

The medical team had decided based on her progress that they were going to extubate her today (take the tube out of her throat).  She passed all the 'tests'  throughout the night.  However, one of the withdrawal symptoms of being taken off morphine and other drugs is vomiting   She did that in a big way this morning and aspirated vomit into her lungs.  Vomit in the lungs can be a very bad thing.  

Since the tubes were still in place they were able to suction as much as they could, but we are asking for prayers that this aspiration of the lungs does not damage her lungs, create another infection, or set back her progress more than a day.  She will be remain intubated for the foreseeable future.  

Thank you for your prayers.

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(back to what was written Saturday....)

I sleep in Hayleigh’s room at the hospital, and Friday morning I awoke to alarms going off.  She decided it was time to get up and get out of her bed.  She was literally sitting on the edge of the bed, feet on the ground with her hand on the tubes in her mouth trying to pull them out!  She is quite the fighter. 

That episode earned her a new bed which can be moved into all kinds of different positions including helping her get in a sitting position.  More importantly it finalized the decision to get her off nitric oxide.  One of the medical team members wanted to keep her on it a couple of more days at a low setting.  If she pulled her tubes out there was a greater danger if she hadn’t been weaned off the nitric, so they went ahead and got rid of the nitric oxide. 

It was interesting to watch the team switch out the bed (old bed out in the hall, new bed coming in, Hayleigh hanging on the scale!). 


I nominate this poster from the teachers at her old Elementary School as the most creative ‘card’ she has received (yes, those are real candy wrappers...):



On the home front…

Rachel and Isaiah arrived home:


This time of year is sensational in our hometown:



Vienna got her first starts in field hockey and her team dedicated their last games to Hayleigh.  Thanks girls! 

Sarah ran for her Elementary School student council….and was elected President!  Rachel played her the Presidential March music the next morning when she came down for breakfast ;)



Baby Isaiah continues to grow….and Rachel is in full swing with her picture ideas....



One of the few moments of sleep for Rachel…


I went home Saturday morning to take AJ to his soccer game.  We had team pictures today, and I’m the coach of the team.  But I didn’t think to get any pictures of the event itself L 

But here are some pics of AJ the past few days…




As mentioned in my last post, Aunt Gretchen arrived this week and there is NEVER a dull moment when Gretchen is in the house.  Here is what Rachel posted on Facebook Friday…

Gretchen Powell volunteered to take Sarah Rachel to school so that she could go to Dunkins for a coffee....Well, after a few drive-by's she got to Dunkins, ordered, went to the car and heard sniffing...she turned around and a HUGE BLACK dog was behind her...scared her to death and she realized she wasn't in her car. So, she got out. A man was watching her and he suggested she go to the other side of the building where there was another parking lot. Once at the other side of the building, she realized she didn't have her coffee....She left it in the wrong car LOL...So she hustled to the back of the building to see the car driving away. Gretchen managed to flag the car down, admitted to the lady that she had been in her car and that the coffee in on the seat was hers.....Oy! All in the first 24+ hours....Stay tuned more definitely to come  Gotta love the Aunt Gretchen - she is better than cable any day of the week!”

We love Aunt Gretchen! 



Finally, I prayed a bit last week about when Hayleigh will be home and think I got an answer.  Sarah proceeded to tell Rachel “Well, God told Daddy she would be home on xx date.”  That’s not exactly what happened….just something peculiar happened on the day I prayed about when she would be coming home.  What is most important is that she get the best care possible (which is going to happen at Children’s Boston).  So, while I’m anxious for her to be home I’m not willing to rush anything.

Prayer requests:
1.    Hayleigh healthy and whole in every way
2.    AJ return to health (he has a cold and is miserable / super grumpy…and probably a bit irritated at us for shipping him around for about 10 days)
3. Updated prayer request Sunday morning...pray that the setback described above is minor and that no infection or damage to the lungs occurred.  

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.

God Bless,

10 comments:

  1. hiya Scotts - was thinking of you guys today while out in the garden only to discover rosebuds on the red rose bush you left for us...brought a smile off memories! Super to hear of the miracles all round - what a lovely family you all are and your faith is a wonderful witness to us all. You're choosing to be a Job Andrew - he chose to praise God in the face of all disasters and look how blessed he was...ultimately. Lots of love for our little island down south - recently renamed Te Ika a Maui (The big fish of Maui!) the Hensleys

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  2. Great news. I had to smile at Isaiah's pictures. Any child coming into the Scott family had better not be camera shy because Rachel's ideas are endless. :-) Sounds like Sarah knocked it out of the park with her speech. I think she brought up some good points in her speech - a victory well deserved.

    I'm so glad everyone is doing so well and we'll add AJ's cold to our prayers.

    Blessings,

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  3. I continue to hold you all in my thoughts and prayers. I strongly believe in miracles and God's Love. My youngest, who wasn't expected to survive as a infant, is serving his country these past 15 years. Hayliegh has a lot to teach us yet. I looking forward to her lessons. Hugs, Energy and Speedy recovery wishes being sent your way.

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  4. This is an incredible post in every way...from the pics, to the anecdotes, the updates of Hayleigh's progress.... everything! We miss Gretchen here in Wisconsin, but know she is where she needs to be, with you all. Give her a hug from Christina. She's my sister-in-law and I love her very much too!

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  5. The Scott family certainly lives full out each and every day! So in just a few days, Hayleigh made extraordinary progress, Rachel and Isaiah not only came home, but Isaiah has become a baby model, Vienna played a field hockey game, Sarah was elected President, AJ played and Andrew coached a soccer game, and Aunt Gretchen has inspired a new sit com. What touched me most was hearing that Rachel played the Presidential March for Sarah. Andrew, you and Rachel are extraordinary parents who play at 100%, celebrating every moment with each of your children and each other. You are truly an inspiration for us all and the coolest part is that you and your life story are real. This is not some made up show--this is life, lived at its fullest!

    Love you and we will continue to pray for what is most important each day. Go, Hayleigh, go!

    Linda McCoy and Mom

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  6. We've been following your story and wanted to let you know that you all remain in our prayers. Thank you for sharing this incredible journey, and God bless, from the Losurdo family (former PMLC members).

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    1. Thank you Losurdos. It has been a blessing to us to see members from our previous churches both in Texas and New England coming alongside to support our girl. God bless you and thanks for commenting.

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  7. So proud of you guys and we're praying daily for Hailey's full recovery as well as the rest of your wonderful kids!!! Thanks for the fantastic updates that enable us to pray with effect!
    Give our best to all from the crew in Spokane WA!!!
    Steve Williams

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  8. Continuing to pray for all of you. The Lord is with you through this hurricane. Your family is an inspiration to many!

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  9. Thank you for the updates its good to be part of your family's amazing journey we contunue to keep you all in prayer and know you are surrounded by so much love and goodness regardless of ones beliefs supporting each other through tragedy to triumph is what makes life worth living. Moe daniels

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