Recover Day 7 ECMO Removed

  Well it's been a week. Most AVSD repair recovery times are around a week, but Lyla does things on her own time. So here we are.
  Today was a big day for Lyla. The doctors and surgeon felt comfortable to wean Lyla from the ECMO. Essentially they "bridged" the lines to only pump into Lyla and not back into the machine giving her heart a chance to fill up with blood and pump the blood throughout her body on its own. She did pretty well, so the surgeon decided to remove the cannulas in her neck and completely take her off the ECMO! It left a yucky sore and some scratches:( poor girl. But it's out! So far her heart rate is good and her blood pressure is good. So we are very hopeful!

(Look! No tubes in her neck!)

  Yesterday I reported that the fluid in her chest tube had cleared up. Well.... it's  back to being foggy and now even discolored. To compare it to beverages, it should be a kind of clear red like Gatorade.  The other day it was foggy like tomato juice, and today it is like a foggy pineapple guava juice... She will have to switch to another formula that should break down the fats that are getting pushed in the wrong direction. (Not sure if i have that explanation correct, may come back and change that later) This formula apparently tastes yucky, but lucky for Lyla she won't have to taste it since she is still gtube fed.
  Urine is doing well, but looking a bit bloody from being on the ECMO machine. They're treating her for a unrinary tract infection, and plan to remove the catheter and try for her to pee on her own into a diaper.
  Stopped feeds for all the excitement today, but should get back on tonight.

(Mom & Lyla immediately after ECMO removal)

  Now that she is no longer hooked up to the ECMO, the nurses are able to position her in ways to help the fluid in her lungs drain better. The lower part of her right lung looks better, but the upper part is not improving the same. Dr. V is hopeful now that Lyla is "free" that things will start moving along faster.

   Her breathing tube still in.