In the Cath Lab for another echo

Bernie had some apple juice when she came out of her first round of sedation today. That pushed us to needing to move again at 3 o'clock for another echo in the Cath Lab under a greater degree of sedation. 

We spent an additional two hours in the PCTU waiting for the next procedure. Fortunately, one of the therapy dogs was available to entertain Bernie for a while. Lola climbed right in bed with Bernie and they hung out for a good 20-30 minutes. A perfect diversion. 

 

They're going to brush her hair and give her a bath while she is sedated as well. Hopefully the hair brushing will not push her over the edge into an agitated state.  They may or may not do a transesophageal echo well they are back there.

In the meantime, I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth for the first time today at 3:00 and I am eating this full order of Count Twists. 

 

I just got word from our nurse practitioner today that everything from this more heavily sedated echo looks good. The gradient across the valve after further, more advanced exploration is somewhere in the 5 to 8 range. 

Her IJ in her neck has been pulled and she has a new peripheral IV in although it really won't be needed. We are bumping up her Coumadin, getting one last finger poke INR check in the morning, and will be discharged!

Can I get an A-MEN!!!!!!!!! Thank you, God! Thank you, Love and Prayer Warriors! Jeff and the girls will be down in a few hours. we have a room at the Ronald McDonald house tonight and will be on the road to Traverse City tomorrow.

Now it really should feel good to see this movie of Bernie laughing with the therapy dog, Lola, before this last big procedure.