Dear Lord. Thank You!

As I am still waking up from sedation, I am overjoyed! My ICU doctor is also an amazing pulmonologist. She formulated a possible cause for my symptoms and execute that plan this afternoon. My tracheostomy tube was too long and too wide for my trachea. It was causing ulcers to form around my tracheostomy tube, and the tip on the tracheostomy tube was digging into my trachea. The pulmonologist changed the trach tube to a smaller size diameter and a shorter length.

Although I am less than two hours post-op, the pain in my throat is SO MUCH less! I no longer have a stabbing pain in my back. I can eat without pain and without developing severe coughing spells. I no longer feel the urge to rip the trach tube out of my throat. Although still under sedation, my breathing is down to 28-32 breaths per minute, a SIGNIFICANT improvement from the 54 breaths per minute I was experiencing prior to the procedure.

I am still not 100% over this hurdle. My trachea needs time to heal; there is no guarantee my trachea will heal or will heal properly. Some cultures and lab work still need to come back from the lab clearing me from some infections and other complications. Praying my coughing spells and severe shortness of breath stay away. As the sedation wears off, only then can these two symptoms be assessed.

But for now, I am praising God! Praising God for leading me to an amazing doctor. Praising God for the amazing medical staff at this medical center. Praising God for relief from my symptoms. Praising God for hearing so many prayers from so many people. Thank you all for all your love and prayers. "Thank You God for allowing Your servant to live another day. Another day to study Your word. Another day to proclaim Your abundant glory! Hallelujah! Amen!"