Post-Op Update

Since I am tardy you get a 2 for 1 special on posts tonight... Sam became more alert around 8pm and they called me back to see him. He was still on the lung machine that was doing most of his breathing but he was becoming more alert. I was more at ease when I told him I loved him and he was able to do 143 with his fingers to me...tears were streaming!

The nurse started to take him off the lung machine more - forcing him to breathe on his own and he was able to do so. They conduct three tests to determine if you are really ready to come off the machine as they don't want to have to try and put you back on it.

1. They decrease the lung machine and ask you to take very deep breaths (uncomfortable) so they can get a reading.
2. They disconnected him entirely from the lung machine and had him breathe out as hard as he could so they could get a reading on what looked like it could be an old metal stop watch.
3. They draw some blood (don't worry from a pre-poked IV) and run some tests

He passed the first two and they were very pleased with the results. We had to wait another 20 minutes for his bloodwork to come back and it was all clear too. Jen (His nurse for the night and so nice) went to show the results to the ICU Dr to ensure it was ok to take him off of the machine. Then it was go time! I held his hand as Jen and another nurse carefully took out his mouth tubes. He was thrilled to take a breath on his own and not gag on a tube anymore. I believe some of his first words are along the lines of "holy shit" and "Am I alive?". Which I beamed with telling him how great everything went.

Since he doesn't remember much or talked to the doctor; after some ice chips he wanted to know what they did. I thought it wasn't the best time to MOOOO at him so I explained they did need to replace the aortic valve with a cow valve but assured him it was all great and the surgeon's could not have been more pleased with how everything went. He was more concerned about if there were any complications or if they had to use his groin - and all thankfully didn't happen.

I kissed him goodnight around 10:20pm and he was getting some meds and sleeping the night away.

I can't thank everyone enough for all of the love and support today...especially my amazing hospital support group that made me actually eat and had kleenex handy when I needed it :)

much love. I will update you all tomorrow after we see the doctor.