Pushing through the hard times...

So we are at the point of Sam's recovery that we always get to, but is always the hardest part. We need to figure out a plan on how to safely and efficiently extubate him. We need to have him awake enough that he is breathing well on his own, but still on his sedation meds and not thrashing around in the bed. He also has to stay on methadone and ativan to prevent withdrawls from all the other narcotics. Finding the right dose of enough to prevent withdrawls, and too much so he's not breathing on his own is proving to be a hard task. We have added a new medication to sedate him, yet it is one he can breathe on, to try to cut back on his methadone and ativan. We will just have to wait and see how this plan works as the day goes on...if we need to try another plan we will. Here is a picture of him yesterday with his new pic line.

That is his pic line in his upper right arm. :)