Finally I feel able to manage a full update!
It's been 4 days and a bit now since Sara's bicycle accident, and almost 3-1/2 days since her surgery. We've been very blessed by her survival and progress, and by the prayers and concern shown by so many, including so very many here at FR.
Today's been the first day that felt like we were no longer in the midst of a huge, urgent crisis. The tornadoes of night-before-last probably prolonged the major stress some... after being up until 3 am with those (on top of everything else) I spent yesterday just about wiped out. But last night I was able to get a decent night's sleep for the first time since the accident, and (thank God) Sara's condition has continued to improve.
Her surgeon said again that this was a really serious accident, but that she was making very good progress. I didn't realize until this evening though that if things had been just a little bit different, Sara could've bled to death within minutes. Instead, she is solidly on the road to recovery.
I also learned from Sara herself today that the original plan after her surgery (which in itself went well) had been to keep her in pediatric intensive care for two days. She made such quick progress, though, that she made it through the PICU in just one day. Again, I credit her spirit, the doctors' and nurses' skill, your prayers, our love, and God's help for her quick progress.
Sara now has the annoying tube out of her nose/ stomach, so we are down to 4 tubes of various kinds. She has a morphine epidural but has never used it quite as much as they expected, again a sign of things going really well. The epidural may come out tomorrow, in fact.
She is supposed to get out of bed 4 times a day; most of her get-ups were very brief today but this evening I walked with her for about half an hour. Sara's younger sisters and I went with her to look at the fish in the pediatric aquarium, then back to the room to fetch her two borrowed movies, return those to the movie kiosk and borrow two more.
One interesting comment: Yesterday Sara was fielding a few questions from a family friend via phone, who asked what happened. Her reply: "I hurt myself on my bicycle."
My immediate thought: wow, no hint of casting about for someone or something to blame for this unprecedented tragedy in her life, just "this is what I did and this is what happened as a result." It made me feel that already she is assuming a lot of responsibility for her own life, and I think that approach to life will serve her well.
The way things are going now, it's looking like we could be out of the hospital by the end of this week. I'm still a bit concerned about pancreas function, but it looks to me as a layman that there are maybe some encouraging signs also with that. By that, I mean that today she was allowed something more than ice chips for the first time since the accident. They've been giving her bits of jello, popsicles, grape and apple juice - all things with sugar.
So it looks to me as a layman that either they think she can handle it with zero problems, or they think it's good to get the pancreas to adjust to having some sugar right off the bat. But I don't know anything about these issues so maybe somebody who does can give some feedback? (Incidentally, thanks to griffin for the info about a girl who had such a similar incident!)
To sum up, we're all very encouraged, and I wanted to let everyone who's prayed for us know the excellent results of your prayers. Assuming all goes smoothly from this point, I hope to do one more update that, God willing, will be the final one, when Sara gets out of the hospital. For that, I'll probably see if Sara herself might be willing to also contribute a bit from her own perspective. I know that she appreciates all of the prayers and concern.
Thanks again, "Luke"
If you remember, Luke, we'd love to hear about her first bike ride when she's all better.
Wonderful update! I'm so happy that you shared this news, despite the exhaustion you must be feeling. Please know that we are all still praying for your family and especially for Sara as she continues to heal. May God continue to bless you all.
It I recall from my Anatomy class, it's the tip of the pancreas, the cells in the Islets of Langerhans that secrete insulin. The other portion of the pancreas secretes enzymes to digest protein and fat (amylase and lipase). Perhaps they removed the portion that secretes the amylase and lipase, and the Islets of Langerhans is still intact? That's what it sounds like, if they are telling you that she should still be able to secrete insulin. Giving sugared "clears" is standard practice after abdominal surgery; water doesn't contain calories and glucose, and with the stress her body is under, she needs the calories. I'm curious as to whether she'll need pancreatic enzyme supplements with meals. Glad to hear everything worked out well. I'll continue the prayers.
Praise God!
Meanwhile, please tell her we Freepers love her and are thrilled with her progress.
More prayers - stay strong.
I wouldn't put a lot of stock in this ... my Mother is a diabetic and I was appalled that when she was in the hospital and on a liquid diet that they gave her lots of sugary stuff. When I said something my friend, who is an RN and has worked for years in hospitals, she confirmed that is the typical liquid diet in hospitals, diabetic or not. They don't have a different liquid diet for diabetics. If someone is diabetic they just keep track of their blood sugar and give insulin accordingly. This also disturbed me because Mother never takes insulin at home, she always controls it by diet.
But hopefully, despite all that, it won't be a big problem for your daughter. Sugar isn't good for anyone, though, so it wouldn't hurt to cut back regardless. Of course low blood sugar could also be a problem if the pancreas isn't operating properly, but easily remedied by eating on schedule and getting plenty of good protein and good fats.
Prayed for your daughter when I saw your post and each time I've read an update. Will continue to pray in Jesus' precious Name for your daughter's complete recovery, as well as grace and strength for all of you.
Continued prayers for your daughter's complete recovery.
What a relief for all of you, Luke. That's really wonderful news and thank you for updating us.
Tears of joy in my eyes. I'm so glad to hear the news. I'm still praying for your family and in awe of your brave Sara!
I'm so happy for you, your family, and your remarkable daughter. We await your next update with great hope and we would be delighted and proud to hear from Sara herself when she feels up to it.
Glad you're sleeping. Longest four days of your life, I bet!
Thanks for the update. That's quite a brave little lady you have there.
Good news! I am really glad to hear this and I thank our Lord that he helped your daughter.
Glad to hear it! Thank God.
We're all smiling WITH you......
Thank you so much for the update! I'll keep praying for a full recovery for Sara! Sounds like you could use some yourself, Dad, so you and your family are also in my prayers for some needed rest. So glad things are looking up so far! :o)
How wonderful!!
So it looks to me as a layman that either they think she can handle it with zero problems, or they think it's good to get the pancreas to adjust to having some sugar right off the bat. But I don't know anything about these issues so maybe somebody who does can give some feedback?
As for your concerns about pancreas function -- by which you mean diabetes, I assume -- don't sweat it too much. God willing, I hope you don't have to deal with diabetes. If nothing else, you don't have to worry about the kind of diabetes caused by an autoimmune response such that the body kills its own pancreatic beta cells (which produce insulin).
But if you do have to deal with diabetes (which in your case I think would be not diabetes, but rather low insulin production), It's Not That Bad. Not what you'd want, certainly, and it would mean that your little girl has a serious health burden. But really, it's not that bad -- the technology and support for kids with diabetes is nothing short of incredible.
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The LOVE Itself is Good.
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