Well Tessa got expelled from the ICU for the second time (in this case expulsion is a good thing).
Lungs are continuing to improve and although Tessa is still obviously traumatized by everything and going through significant withdrawal, she seems to be showing some small signs of improvement both in terms of physical coordination and mental acuity. Her fine motor skills manifest themselves in an almost ceaseless rubbing together of her index finger and thumb. Sometimes she tugs at her earlobe or does the occasional "thumbs-up". Katie said that this morning before I got to the hospital, Tessa grabbed her sippy cup in both hands and brought it to her mouth for a drink...it seems like a little thing but that is HUGE progress over where she was even yesterday. She still makes very little eye contact but there are moments when her gaze seems to fixate on mine or Katie's for 10 or 15 seconds...again, 10 or 15 seconds longer than yesterday.
These are very slow-developing improvements but it's starting to feel like that delirious fog is beginning to lift, gradually revealing the old Tessa that we know is still in there.
The last couple of days has given me so much appreciation for the complexity and resilience of the human mind. I've personally never had any experience with neurological issues (at least nobody tells me) nor have I ever studied much about brain. But it's such a powerful organ and one that we take for granted. You break an arm and you put a cast on it. You slice your foot and you stitch it up. You damage the brain and the problem is so nebulous and medically misunderstood that the solution is seemingly unimaginable. So far most all the work that has been done on Tessa has been fairly mechanical...inject oxygen into the system, drain the lungs of fluid, kick-start the kidneys, etc...but when it comes to the brain, there's nothing mechanical about it. There's no magic machine to fix it or revolutionary drug to reverse whatever damage has been done.
Still, we have hope and we have plenty of time...and we have one wickedly smart little girl that has more determination than I could ever have in a thousand years.
As for that whole ICU production, let's hope today's take was the last.
Erik--All of your blog entries have been special, but today's is wonderful. That includes the news, as well as your thoughgfulness and reflections. One comment however needs some corrections. You and Katie have already proven that you each have at least ten thousand years determination, and when you factor in Tessa's, the Ulvestad quotient becomes incalculable. Thank you for sharing the tremendous news and feelings. Randy
ReplyDeleteErik...I totally agree with Randy. You and Katie have been so strong and so amazingly patient throughout this entire experience so far. It's no wonder that our little Tessa is the way she is. I think about her every hour of the day...and Eli has become really good at saying her name~ 'Tedda'. Cheers to the Sippy Cup!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, I am beside myself about how much you all have faced and how strong you've been day after day. I'm so glad to hear Tessa's getting better...may you have her home soon!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading a blog about Tessa in that little red wagon!! xo, kim
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