As always, our days have been filled with non-stop excitement here in the Heintz family!
Our weekend started off nicely. Saturday we had my cousins wedding to attend, and enjoyed every moment. I wish we could of done something for Jill's 29th birthday, but with all of our other committments, we just ran out of time. We tend to always somehow do nothing for ourselves, and always are too busy thinking of the others around us.
Sunday morning, came and before leaving for Pittsburgh we thought we would have breakfast with my parents and grandmother. While on the way to breakfast, the cars empty gas light was on. Knowing this the night before that our car was low on gas, and knowing from past experience we have driven it before numerous times with the light on empty for miles and miles, we thought we had plenty to make it to the gas station. Of course, as our black cloud would have it, we ran out of gas about a mile from home, just after all the steep hills have been passed, meaning only one thing.....I had to start walking home!!
Breakfast was delayed about an hour, but we finally managed to eat and then make our way to Pittsburgh afterwards.
On our way back, we learned that Ally was not feeling well, and had spiked a temperature. Cultures were drawn, and we knew before we arrived in Pitt, that Sunday night was not going to be much fun.
Once in Pitt, we found out another surprise. The oldest of out three cars (don't let the number 3 fool you, one has 200,000+, and the other has 160,000+ miles), the one I planned to return home in 2 days later, decided it was not going to start!! Again, what else could go wrong?
Monday came, we found a garage to fix our car, which of course needed a new fuel pump...another $800 out the door! Oh well, I guess it could be worse, we could be without the car at all, and I would be then flying home, minus one car.
Monday and today, Ally was feeling much better. She has not had a temperature since after having her antibiotics started on Sunday. The cultures that came back, shown she was growing something in her trache, and whatever it was is being treated and going away as the days pass.
Ally did some working out with PT, standing on her feet with the assistance of a workout board device for about 10 minutes. The goal is to get her muscles and body stronger, so that the rest of her will also feel better, including those lungs of hers!
Besides PT, Ally also had OT. She worked on playing and tasting food. I can tell you now, this will be one of our biggest challenges,,,getting Ally to eat by mouth!! Ally has never really ever eaten anything by mouth, so you can only imagine the struggles she may face ahead! Could mean some tough love, if you know what I mean?
Ally also had a scope of her small bowel yesterday. There was a few areas of some slight concern, so more test will be run Thursday. The doctors never really gave much explanation what they were seeing, but said we should not worry...easy for them to say of course.
The last final piece of information to share is that we are currently working with the hospital staff to develop a plan to get Ally out of the hospital, and home to our apartment in Pittsburgh as an outpatient. Needless to say, this takes a lot of work and planning, and for the most part we were told that Ally should be able to leave as early as November 1st. Don't hold your breath on that, because as past history goes, one doctor says one thing, and the next one on shift the following week has other ideas. At this point we know not to think that something is set in stone, and know to work a day at a time. If the November first happens, great, if not, we will try the next available day ;)
Continue to keep Ally in your prayers, and pray for continued strength, that she will soon be able to make it out of the hospital.
Shane