A Wild Mustang

The doctor today said that John Asher's heart is a lot like a wild mustang that hasn't been trained. They are trying to keep it in the corral using lots of different medications. But it doesn't like the corral, and it is bucking and trying to get out because it is wild and it wants to do its own thing. Just like the mustang, over time his heart will become accustomed to the new boundaries. It's been wild and free its whole life and now it is being caged and told to act differently. It will just take time.

Today, several different things occurred. One bit of good news is that a drainage tube from his left lung was removed since it had no longer been draining. The right drainage tube is still in and draining a significant amount of fluid from his right lung, mostly due to the irregular heart beat. The doctors have been trying some different medications to try to control his heart rhythm. Thus far, none have been overly successful. A new medication was started this evening to try to regulate his heart beat but we won't know until tomorrow whether it was completely effective. Overall, it is his irregular heart rhythm that is keeping him in CICU. He has also been running some low grade fevers, as well as squirming enough to cause his main IV to come out. They had to move it from his neck to his arm today.

I am so thankful Jeremiah has been there in CICU and has been a voice for John Asher. He was able to convince another nurse that she should not put the IV in his foot, as she wanted, but instead, his arm. His arms are already restrained and he kicks around A LOT so by putting it in his foot like she wanted, he would eventually kick it out and have it moved again or they would have to restrain his leg as well which sounds a little inhumane. Thankfully, it is in his arm.

He seemed very alert for a while today but he also seemed to be uncomfortable. Every time his heart rate would shoot up, he would squirm and flail around until it went back down. I was able to talk to him and show him some pictures the children drew for him and he really seemed to like looking at them.

Jeremiah is home for tonight for a much needed break. I think he has a touch of cabin fever. Please continue to pray for John Asher and his heart rate but also for his parents as we need strength and stamina to get through some of these more mentally and emotionally tough days.