Day 42 - Wednesday January 25, 2012

Sorry to everyone that I am so slow to post this week.  It's been a little crazy!  So, today when we saw the doctors they said they were going to try to get the x-ray in the morning and then remove the trach in the afternoon!  Very exciting!  They wanted the x-ray first because they don't want to disturb the trach site after removing it.  So, we went to therapy in the morning, then straight to x-ray before lunch.  After Bridgett's afternoon therapy sessions, the doctor came by and removed the trach.  It was a quick process.  He removed the c-collar she was wearing, removed the trach tie collar that hold the trach in place, asked Bridgett to take a big breath and cough (which she did) and the trach popped out!  The hole looked nice and clean and quite small.  They put on a dressing which they said would be changed daily.  I said, so about two days to heal.  They said it can take up to five, but because hers was nice and small and clean, it would be quicker.  Stephany wanted to get a quick picture, because she knew that Bridgett would want to see it.  However, they covered it so quickly and didn't really listen to her asking.  I said, you can get a picture tomorrow.  They really taped it all up and said to watch for drainage.  Now, they said, you can wear the soft collar and they were going to order one.  But, I still had one from the other hospital.  So, Bridgett reached out and took it from me and put it on herself.  Of course, it wasn't quite tight enough and had to be adjusted but it was cute.  She said, oh, this is SO soft.  Oh, I really like this one!  It will be great having the trach gone and the c-collar as well!  So, now the only annoyance is the peg.  That will not come out for three weeks approximately.  So, we will be release from here with it in and have to return to have it removed.  But, its under the ab binder and out of sight and mostly Bridgett pays no attention to it, so all good.  Oh, I forgot the most exciting thing.  Immediately after removing the trach they told me that she might have trouble talking again because it different again.  They said she might have to put her fingers over the dressing to be able to speak.  They asked her a question then and she talked just as loud as ever! Oh, they said, apparently she won't have any trouble!