Lucy woke up this morning crying and gasping for air. Her lips and tongue were completely blue, she was cyanotic. Her oxygen saturation was in the low 40's and she was basically in respiratory failure. Lucy was given extra oxygen to bring her saturation levels back up and an arterial blood gas was quickly taken to determine what might be wrong.
pH is a scale that measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is. The scale ranges from 1 to 14 with 1 being very acid, 7 neutral and 14 very alkaline. The pH of your blood is extremely important. The ideal pH level for your blood is right around 7.35 and your body goes to enormous lengths to maintain this level. If the pH of your blood falls below 7.35, the result is a condition called acidosis, a state that leads to central nervous system depression. Severe acidosis, where blood pH falls below 7.00, can lead to a coma and even death.
Lucy's pH level this morning was 7.099.
Luckily, she was stabilized and given bicarbonate, then immediately transported back to the pediatric intensive care unit and we have been here with her all day. The ICU doctors are closely monitoring and working to determine what could have caused Lucy's respiratory status to decline so rapidly and what might be causing her pulmonary edema. We all hope to have answers soon. Please continue to keep Lucy in your thoughts.
Happy Belated Down Syndrome Awareness Month
5 months ago
6 comments:
praying...
I don't pray, but I am hoping that the doctors can quickly figure out what's wrong, fix it and help your beautiful little girl get better and get home!
please know that we are thinking of you and saying some prayers for lucy! i hope they can stabilize her and figure out what happened! *hugs*
Oh my godness! This post made me cry! You have all been through so much. Praying for answers for Lucy and peace for you. Let me pray right now, "Lord, I pray for healing for Lucy's little body. I thank you that she is fearfully and wonderfully made and she was created for a purpose. Please give the doctors insight and wisdom and cause this little one's body to line up with your Word. Bless her parents and give them grace and peace. Hold her in the palm of your hand. Amen."
I'm in Indy. If there is anything I can do, please let me know!
Found your blog recently and have been following. I am praying that little Lucy will heal quickly and the Drs find a resolution to todays scare. I also have a 17 month old daughter with DS, I cant imagine how scary this journey through Lucy's heart operation must be!!
Oh I am so sorry to hear about this complication. Come on Lucy we want you outta there. When she get's through this she will be one strong little girl and she will be so happy to be home I am sure. Will be thinking of you.
Post a Comment