Vital signs were so perfect the other day that Linda wants to share them with all of you!
Blood pressure was 128/72. Heart rate, 72. Blood/oxygen levels were also much better. I think she had a little anxiety about the removal of the chest tube at first, but there have been no related complications. She’s receiving oxygen daily now and special respiratory treatments that will help improve her lungs. Her breathing seems quite normal and she hasn't had episodes of being out of breath. The Respiratory Therapist told us that the treatment she breathes periodically through a mask causes restlessness in some patients so they are willing to skip the evening treatments so that her sleep will not be interrupted. Anyway, someone comes in at all hours of the night to wake her up for this or that. I don't know how they can expect patients to get well if they can't get a good night's sleep. It's noisy up and down the hall day & night! Sleep is also a remedy. Most of the times I ever get sick is when I'm sleep-deprived, which seems to deplete my immune system. Mom says she wishes she could just lock them out at night or hang a "Do not disturb" sign on her door.

She was up in a wheelchair today and was able to see some of the hallway, get to know the neighborhood a little. She does feel a lot of fatigue after exercise, but she's determined to get out of bed more often and do more normal activities. It will get easier. It will take time.

She’s still suffering from intermittent pains, and we are so sorry when those episodes affect her. The latest is pain in her left shoulder and arm area as well as the left wrist. After not being able to move that arm for over a month, it’s like running a marathon to do a few simple exercises, and it seems so painful. The pain that was affecting her abdomen seems to have been resolved by the removal of the chest tube.

Linda’s dentist made a special visit today (on his day off) to examine a loose tooth, that has been hurting while brushing, that may have become loosened from the impact of the accident. He said it is stable enough to wait-and-see, not likely to become infected, but might have some inflammation later. John was the dentist’s boy scout leader once upon a time.