Progress

Cindy is looking much better than she did a couple days ago. She has a good team of doctors working with her and she is also getting good care.
Her incision is actually 12" long, from her breast bone down to her pubic bone, but they went around her belly button! There has been close to a liter of drainage from the drainage tube under her left lung, and her shunts are both draining well - quite amazing how that all works, and still no headaches!!
Cindy is still in ICU but might possibly be moved yet this afternoon into the acute surgical ward where she would still get alot of care. She is still on ALOT of medication, they did insert a PICC line in her on Wednesday so that is helpful. The Dr said her pain level would be very high yet for a couple days, so she is very heavily medicated and does say some very interesting things sometimes. Her sugar level is elevated so she is on insulin right now (that should go away) and her thyroid level dropped so she is on meds for that also. Their biggest concern of course is for the infection, they need to get her belly area "sterile" before they can do anything with the shunt tubes. The biggest concern is the shunts themselves. They don't know if they will have to take those out and replace them. PLEASE keep praying that this will not have to happen. They did alot of cultures during surgery and the results of those aren't back yet. That would mean a couple more brain surgeries, instead of just the surgeries to place the shunt tubes.
According to the Dr her stay in the hospital could likely be up to two weeks.
They did get Cindy in a chair this morning for the first time and that went well. There is a chaplain that has been coming to visit and pray with her every day which has been so nice and comforting.
Please continue to keep Cindy and her family in your prayers!
Kathy Kaptein (mom)